River Dynasties in River Dynasties in China China Chapter 2 Section 4 pg. 46 Chapter 2 Section 4 pg. 46
Jan 16, 2016
River Dynasties in River Dynasties in ChinaChinaChapter 2 Section 4 pg. 46Chapter 2 Section 4 pg. 46
Geography of ChinaGeography of China
Natural barriers isolate China from other Natural barriers isolate China from other civilizationscivilizations
East- Pacific OceanEast- Pacific Ocean West- Taklimakan desertWest- Taklimakan desert Southwest- Himalaya MountainsSouthwest- Himalaya Mountains North- Gobi DesertNorth- Gobi Desert
Pacific Ocean, Taklimakan Pacific Ocean, Taklimakan Desert, Himalayas, and Gobi Desert, Himalayas, and Gobi Desert Desert
Rivers Rivers
2 major rivers flow 2 major rivers flow from the mountains from the mountains west to the Pacific west to the Pacific OceanOcean
Huang He (hwahng-Huang He (hwahng-HUH) in the northHUH) in the north
Yangtze (yang-SEE) Yangtze (yang-SEE) in Central Chinain Central China
Mountain ranges dominate 2/3 of China’s Mountain ranges dominate 2/3 of China’s landmasslandmass
90% remaining land that is suitable for farming 90% remaining land that is suitable for farming is in the small plain between the 2 riversis in the small plain between the 2 rivers
Chinese viewed Chinese viewed those outside of those outside of Chinese civilization Chinese civilization were barbarianswere barbarians
Own name for China Own name for China was the Middle was the Middle KingdomKingdom
China’s 1China’s 1stst civilization developed in a civilization developed in a river valley- the Huang He means “yellow river valley- the Huang He means “yellow river”river”
Deposited huge amounts of yellow silt Deposited huge amounts of yellow silt when it overflowed its bankswhen it overflowed its banks
Silt is actually fertile soil called loess that Silt is actually fertile soil called loess that is blown by wind from the desertis blown by wind from the desert
Huang He’s floods could be generous or Huang He’s floods could be generous or ruinousruinous
One great flood killed nearly 1 million One great flood killed nearly 1 million people in 1887people in 1887
Due to geographic isolation, early settlers Due to geographic isolation, early settlers had to supply own goods rather than had to supply own goods rather than trading with peopletrading with people
Natural boundaries didn’t always protect Natural boundaries didn’t always protect from invasionsfrom invasions
Invasions from the west and north Invasions from the west and north occurred again and again in Chinese occurred again and again in Chinese historyhistory
Civilization Emerges in Civilization Emerges in Shang TimesShang Times
Even before Sumerians Even before Sumerians settled in Mesopotamia, settled in Mesopotamia, Chinese cultures Chinese cultures building along the building along the Huang HeHuang He
Around 2000 B.C. turned Around 2000 B.C. turned into China’s first citiesinto China’s first cities
China’s first Dynasty China’s first Dynasty emerged at this time, the emerged at this time, the Xia (shyah) DynastyXia (shyah) Dynasty
First DynastiesFirst Dynasties
Leader of Xia named Leader of Xia named YuYu
Controlled flood and Controlled flood and irrigation projects irrigation projects and helped tame and helped tame Huang He and its Huang He and its tributaries so tributaries so settlements could settlements could growgrow
Shang DynastyShang Dynasty
Lasted from 1532 to 1027 B.C.Lasted from 1532 to 1027 B.C. First family to leave written recordsFirst family to leave written records Built elaborate tombs and palacesBuilt elaborate tombs and palaces
Oldest and most important Shang city Oldest and most important Shang city was Anyangwas Anyang
Built mostly of woodBuilt mostly of wood Higher classes lived in timber-framed Higher classes lived in timber-framed
houses with walls of clay and strawhouses with walls of clay and straw Surrounded cities with massive earthen Surrounded cities with massive earthen
walls for protectionwalls for protection
Social ClassesSocial Classes
Divided between nobles and peasantsDivided between nobles and peasants Governed by ruling class of warrior-Governed by ruling class of warrior-
nobles headed by a kingnobles headed by a king Professional warriors underwent lengthy Professional warriors underwent lengthy
training to learn the techniques of driving training to learn the techniques of driving and shooting from horse-drawn chariotsand shooting from horse-drawn chariots
Chariot was a major tool of warChariot was a major tool of war
Origins of Chinese Origins of Chinese CultureCulture
People very loyal to 2 important authorities- People very loyal to 2 important authorities- their family and their king or emperortheir family and their king or emperor
Family was central to Chinese societyFamily was central to Chinese society Important aspect was respecting parentsImportant aspect was respecting parents Elder men in family controlled property and Elder men in family controlled property and
made all decisionsmade all decisions Women treated as inferiors, expected to obey Women treated as inferiors, expected to obey
husband, father, and eventually own sons.husband, father, and eventually own sons.
Girl would marry between 13-16 to arranged Girl would marry between 13-16 to arranged partner and move into house with husbandpartner and move into house with husband
If she gave her husband a son, her status may If she gave her husband a son, her status may improveimprove
Religious beliefsReligious beliefs
Believed that spirits of Believed that spirits of family ancestors could family ancestors could bring good fortune or bring good fortune or disasterdisaster
Didn’t treat them as Didn’t treat them as gods, but gave them gods, but gave them respectrespect
Worshiped a supreme Worshiped a supreme god, Shang Di as well god, Shang Di as well as many lesser godsas many lesser gods
Shang kings consulted gods through Shang kings consulted gods through oracle bones- animal bones and tortoise oracle bones- animal bones and tortoise shells on which a priest would scratch shells on which a priest would scratch questions for the gods, then a priest questions for the gods, then a priest applied a hot poker to it causing it to applied a hot poker to it causing it to crackcrack
The priests interpreted the cracks to see The priests interpreted the cracks to see how the god answeredhow the god answered
……kinda like a Magic Eight kinda like a Magic Eight Ball Ball
Real Oracle BonesReal Oracle Bones
Development of WritingDevelopment of Writing
Chinese method of writing each character Chinese method of writing each character stands for an idea, not a soundstands for an idea, not a sound
Advantage: people in China could learn the Advantage: people in China could learn the same system of writing even if languages were same system of writing even if languages were very differentvery different
Disadvantage: enormous amount of written Disadvantage: enormous amount of written characterscharacters
Person needed to know over 1,000 characters Person needed to know over 1,000 characters to barely be literate, a true scholar needed to to barely be literate, a true scholar needed to know 10,000 charactersknow 10,000 characters
Shang technology and Shang technology and ArtistryArtistry
People who were skilled in crafts made People who were skilled in crafts made up a separate class in societyup a separate class in society
Like other commoners, they lived outside Like other commoners, they lived outside the walls of citiesthe walls of cities
Made weapons, jewelry, religious itemsMade weapons, jewelry, religious items Could also make silk cloth 1000 years Could also make silk cloth 1000 years
before Europe and the rest of world couldbefore Europe and the rest of world could
Zhou Bring New IdeasZhou Bring New Ideas
1027 B.C. people called Zhou (joh) 1027 B.C. people called Zhou (joh) overthrew Shang and established own overthrew Shang and established own dynasty, and adopted much of Shang dynasty, and adopted much of Shang cultureculture
Justified takeover by declaring Shang Justified takeover by declaring Shang King was such a bad leader that the gods King was such a bad leader that the gods had taken away the power and given it to had taken away the power and given it to the Zhouthe Zhou
Justification over Justification over time became time became developed into view developed into view that royal authority that royal authority came from heavencame from heaven
Ruler who had divine Ruler who had divine approval known as approval known as the Mandate of the Mandate of HeavenHeaven
Mandate of Heaven Mandate of Heaven Dynastic Cycle in ChinaDynastic Cycle in China
Floods, riots and other disasters might be signs Floods, riots and other disasters might be signs that the ancestral spirits were unhappy with a that the ancestral spirits were unhappy with a king’s ruleking’s rule
Control through Control through feudalismfeudalism
Zhou dynasty controlled large amounts of Zhou dynasty controlled large amounts of land, governing the area became a land, governing the area became a challengechallenge
Gave different regions of land to different Gave different regions of land to different royal family members and trusted noblesroyal family members and trusted nobles
Established system of feudalism Established system of feudalism
FeudalismFeudalism
Political system where nobles, or lords, Political system where nobles, or lords, are granted the use of lands that legally are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the kingbelong to the king
The nobles owe loyalty and military The nobles owe loyalty and military service to the king and protection to the service to the king and protection to the people who love on the estatespeople who love on the estates
Gradually the lords grew stronger as Gradually the lords grew stronger as small towns grew into cities and small towns grew into cities and expanded into neighboring territoryexpanded into neighboring territory
Local lords became less dependent on Local lords became less dependent on the king and fought among themselves the king and fought among themselves with neighboring lords for wealth and with neighboring lords for wealth and landland
Improvements in Trade and Improvements in Trade and Technology by the ZhouTechnology by the Zhou
The Zhou built roads and canals to The Zhou built roads and canals to supply growing citiessupply growing cities
This stimulated trade and agricultureThis stimulated trade and agriculture Introduced coined moneyIntroduced coined money Developed blast furnaces that allowed Developed blast furnaces that allowed
them to produce cast iron 1,000 years them to produce cast iron 1,000 years before Europeansbefore Europeans
Used iron to create weapons and toolsUsed iron to create weapons and tools
Ancient Blast FurnaceAncient Blast Furnace
Modern Blast FurnaceModern Blast Furnace
Warring StatesWarring States
The Zhou ruled from 1027 to 256 B.C. The Zhou ruled from 1027 to 256 B.C. Nomads from the north invaded and Nomads from the north invaded and
murdered the Zhou monarchmurdered the Zhou monarch Surviving members moved capital to Surviving members moved capital to
Luoyang (lwoh-YAHNG) and pretended Luoyang (lwoh-YAHNG) and pretended to rule for another 500 years to rule for another 500 years
Lords claimed to be kings in own Lords claimed to be kings in own territory, and traditional values collapsedterritory, and traditional values collapsed
Assignment:Assignment:
On your note sheet, create your own writing On your note sheet, create your own writing system using only characters for this sentence:system using only characters for this sentence:
After school, students do homework, After school, students do homework, practice sports, or play video games.practice sports, or play video games.