Indus River Valley and China

INDUS RIVER VALLEY AND

CHINA

GEOGRAPHY OF INDUS RIVER VALLEY Located on a subcontinent – land mass

that is apart from the rest of the continent

Physical Features- Mountain Ranges, valleys and planes that hold 2 rivers- Ganges and Indus

Climate- Strong winds and season rains- monsoons

CITIES IN THE INDUS Set up in a precise grid system Planned Citadel- (fort) major building of the city

Work offered:-farming, trading

Peaceful- few weapons were found

ANCIENT CITADEL

CULTURE AND TRADE A. Social divisions in the society were not great B. relatively prosperous C. Religious artifacts revealed links to Hindu

culture ( Oldest religion, started on the Ganges River,

reincarnation, freedom comes from lifetime of worship, knowledge and virtuous acts)

- Many gods (polytheists) E. Trade developed with others 1. Stamps and seals identified different goods 2. Traded goods found in Sumer identified by

stamps  

MYSTERIOUS ENDING Dates: 1750 B.C.- began to decline 1500 B.C.- collapsed

3 possible reasons for the decline: 1. Indus River changed its course 2. Overworked land by farmers led to a

decline in food production 3. Invaded by a new group

DYNASTIES IN CHINA Geography of China: Huge deserts, high mountains, Pacific Ocean

2 rivers: 1. The Huang He in the north ( Yellow River )

2. The Yangtze in Central China

HUANGE HE AND YELLOW RIVERS

CHINA’S HEARTLAND 1. The small plain between

the two rivers is where most of the farm land was located

2. The Chinese thought of themselves as the center of the civilized world

HEARTLAND CONTINUED Loess was fertile yellow soil blown into

the river and as the river flooded it deposited the rich silt

Huang He could flood at any time and earned the nickname China’s Sorrow

SHANG DYNASTY Shang- leader or emperor Houses were built of wood, not mud

bricks Social Classes: -Higher classes lived inside the city -peasants lived outside the walls

Nobles were the ruling or higher class, led by the king.

This is who protected the cities Often at war, very aggressive

THE ORIGINS OF CHINESE CULTURE A. Family and Society

1. Most important virtue for Chinese society was respect for ones parents ( filial piety)

2. Women were treated as inferior

a. Arranged marriages between the age of 13-16 and moved in with husbands family

ORIGINS OF CHINESE CULTURE Religious beliefs

1. Spirits of family ancestors could bring good or bad fortune

2. (Polytheists) Supreme god – Shang Di, as well as lesser gods

DEVELOPMENT OF WRITING

1. Came from oracle bones2. Each character is an idea3. Spoken language and written

language was different 4. Estimate of 50,000 different

idea characters

ORACLE BONE

ZHOU BRING NEW IDEAS About 1027 Zhou overthrew

Shang, ruled until 256 B.C. Justification of overthrow -

Mandate of Heavena. Just ruler right to rule by approval of god

b. Could loose right to rule if you didn’t have approval

POWER IN THE ZHOU DYNASTY Feudalism: political system in which the nobles would owe loyalty to the king for land.

Eventually the nobles would gain more control than the king and rebel

TECHNOLOGY 1. Built roads for trade and army

2. Created civil servant or Government jobs3. Development of Iron

a. Better weaponsb. Farm tools