ChinaBirth of civilisation

China today

Overview

1. Origins of the civilisation

2. Features of the Shang civilisation

3. End of the Shang dynasty

Origins

The Yangshao and Longshan villages

Yangshao (3000 BCE) People hunted, reared animals and farmed

Longshan (2200 BCE)People reared

animals and farmedLived in walled

communitiesMade pottery from

potters’ wheels

Yangshao

5000-3000 BCE

Central Yellow River

Cultivated mainly millet

Domesticated dogs and pigs

Longshan

3000 – 2000 BCE

Central/lower Yellow River

Cultivated millet

Reared animals

More advanced than the Yangshao people

Shang Civilisation

Shang civilisation emerged in 1523 BCE (ended in

1028 BCE).

First dynasty to have written

evidence.

Origin of the Shang civilisationBegan when

T'ang, a man of great

virtue and wisdom,

overthrew the decadent emperor Jie,

the last of the Xia

dynasty.

versus

Government

Ruled by KingsBelieved that the ancestors

of the King were able to communicate with Di

(among the dead) and the ancestors.

Nepotism -> Fathers pass their thrones to their

sons. Picture of the Yellow Emperor (Huangdi) of the Shang dynasty

Variety of Occupations

Merchants

Craftsmen

Priests

Farmers

Shang bronze

Writing

Pictograms

Found on oracle bones

Over 3 000 characters

The basis of modern Chinese script

Writing

End of the Shang Dynasty

Last Shang king, Zhou, was killed in 1100 BCE

The Zhou dynasty

The Zhou dynasty

Western Zhou (1027 – 771

BCE)

Eastern Zhou (771-221 BCE)

The Qin dynasty

At the end f the Period of the

Warring states, Qin managed to unify China. (221-206 BCE)