Ch.1.ancient.chinese.civ.honors

• 1. Early Chinese CivilizationsCHAPTER 1

2. EARLY CHINESE CIVILIZATION Neolithic origins 4000B.C.E. Yellow River basin Yangtze, West, Redrivers Agricultural revolution Chief crop = Millet Rice (secondagricultural development) 3. XIA DYNASTYXia Dynasty, 2205-1766 B.C.E.First dynasty in ChinaMay be legendary because no ruins have beenfoundMarks the end of the Primitive Society and thebeginning of the Class SocietyFirst to irrigate, produce cast bronze and organizea strong army 4. SHANG DYNASTY: 1766 1050 B.C.E. Capital near Anyang Ruins discovered in1920s suggest theactual existence ofXia Dynasty Walled city containingpublic buildings Military aristocracy chariots and footsoldiers 5. SHANG RELIGIOUS PRACTICESOur understanding of Shang religion comes fromreading inscriptions on oracle bonesOracle bonesDepartment of divination: the practice of using signs (such asoracle bones) to predict the future Priest would submit questions to gods regarding futureweather or crop planting by carving onto the bone or shell using asharp toolIntense heat was then applied with a metal rod until thebone or shell crackedInterpreted the pattern of cracks and wrote gods messageupon the piece as well 6. Oracle Bones 7. Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones 8. SHANG RELIGIONWorshipped ancestral spiritsKings considered high priests of state (notdivine!)Supreme Deity AboveHad authority over the human worldCourt of lesser natural deities (sun, moon,earth, rain, etc.) served the Deity AboveAncestors communicated with Deity Aboveon behalf of livingSacrifices to ancestors 9. CosmologyReligion linked to cosmologyMovement of planets =omens from godsCalendar had a month of30 days and year of 360daysUsed for harvesting planting and reaping 10. NOTABLE FEATURES OF SHANG Writing Bronzes Appeared in 2000 B.C.E. inChina 1,000 years laterthan in Mesopotamia Social classes Few aristocrats served bymany poor Monopoly of bronze weapons 11. Bronze Vessel from the Shang DynastyElephant is a symbol ofwisdom and strength 12. Western Zhou, 1050-771 B.C.E Shang fall to Zhou from western China Continuation of Shang pattern of life andrule Adapted social hierarchy, culture &writing of Shang Blood or lineage ties essential for rule Different political legitimacy to rule 13. MANDATE OF HEAVEN (Shang claimed to bedescendants of priestlyrulers)Zhou establishesMandate of Heaven-Above Deitywithdrew fromwicked Shang rightto rule and gave toZhou-Heaven increasinglyseen as an abstractmetaphysical force 14. Eastern Zhou 771-256 B.C.E. Western Zhou is overran by barbarians in 771B.C.E.Heir to Zhou throne escapes and establish anew eastern capital of LuoyangPolitical power is insignificant Between 481-256 = Warring States periodsmall territorial states at war strong statesswallow weaker ones = by end few greatterritorial states emerge 15. LARGE TERRITORIAL STATES Rise of large territorial states Expansion of population and agricultural lands(Iron Age = new iron tools) Rise of commerce (roads) New kind of army- Cavalry armed with crossbows andprofessional commanders- Ruthless and bloody tactics Shi scholar-bureaucrat collect taxes, conscript soldiers, administer affairs 16. Map 17. Early Iron Age Territorial States inChina during the Sixth Century B.C.E. 17. Chronology: Early China