Yellow River Yellow River CivilizationCivilization

CHINA

• Isolated Region of the world• by Distance, Mountain, and Jungle

Loess = Yellow soil, •forms in Huang He River Valley

•( The Yellow River)

The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley River Valley

CulturesCultures

Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires

Shang: Shang: 1523-1028 1523-1028 BCEBCE

Shang Shang DynastyDynasty– People live in clans (group of families who claim common

lineage)– Peasant Society- lead grueling lives / live in pit houses dug

into the ground (primitive heat / ac)

Religion

»Shang Di = Supreme Being

»Yin and Yang= opposing forces that must balance

»Yin= Earth, darkness, female

»Yang = Heaven, light, male

““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”The Mandate of The Mandate of

HeavenHeaven1.1.The leader must lead by ability The leader must lead by ability

and and virtue. virtue.

2.2.The dynasty's leadership must The dynasty's leadership must be be justified by succeeding justified by succeeding generations.generations.

3.3.The mandate could be revoked The mandate could be revoked by by negligence and abuse; the will negligence and abuse; the will of of the people was important. the people was important.

TheDynastic

Cycle

A new dynasty

comes to power.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Emperor isdefeated !!

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

Start here

FeudalismFeudalism

Gov't system in which local lordsgovern their own land,

but owe military support and service to their ruler

Population rises

– Iron working from Mesopotamia reaches China in 500 BC

–Iron axes, plows = more food, better irrigation

– Copper coins make trade easier–New roads, canals

Achievements»Silk – woven and dyed= clothes of the

rich, wanted commodity around the world = “silk road”

»Books- bound wood or bamboo together to make books

»Calendar- 365 ¼ days»Great Wall- Divides Chinese from

“uncivilized world”, 25 ft high, extended thousands of miles

Confucius- 551 BCE– Scholar, Teacher, Philosopher– The Analects= Collected Works and Sayings– Harmony Exists in Society when everyone accepts their

role- 5 Relationships– Except for friends, no relationship is equal- older superior

to younger, men to women– Filial Piety (Respect for Parents) Above All– Best Ruler= Virtuous, Leads by Example– Education = Key To Success, Advancement

Legalism– Hanfeizi= Chinese Philosopher– Nature of Man is Evil, Greed is motive for most actions– Order is only achieved through strict laws and harsh

punishments

DaoismNo interest in bringing order to human affairs

Goal is harmony with nature

Laozi- lived without leaving any traces

“Dao”= The Way”

Government is unnatural- causes problems

Look beyond everyday worries, human desires and enjoy the simple ways of nature