Ancient China
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Transcript of Ancient China
How Geography Affected Early Chinese
Ancient China
Geography Earliest Civilization Xia Dynasty Shang Dynasty
Travel and communication was limited due to the Gobi and Taklimakan Deserts to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, and the Himalaya Mountains to the southwest
The river valleys were ideal for farming because the floods of the Huang He River and Chang Jiang River left silt to fertilize the soil
Chinese Civilization began along the Huang He River also known as the Yellow River
According to ancient stories Yu the Great was the founder of the Xia Dynasty
First dynasty to have been proven by evidence
Huang He
• Also called the Yellow River
• Nearly 3,000 miles long across northern China
• Often floods, and has been referred to as “China’s sorrow” because of the destruction
Chang Jiang
• The longest river in Asia; also called the Yangzi River
• Flows across central China from Tibet to the Pacific Ocean
Two Rivers of China
Farming
Early Settlements
• Frequent flooding made the land fertile around the Chang Jiang and Huang He rivers.
• Along with farming, the Chinese people hunted, fished, and domesticated animals.
• Small villages grew into larger cities.
• Findings at burial sites suggest that the ancient Chinese believed in an afterlife and had a complex social order.
Civilization Begins
The Xia dynasty might have been founded around 2200 BC, by Yu the Great.
Tales say that Yu dug channels to drain floodwaters and created the major waterways of North China.
Archaeologists have no firm evidence that tales about the Xia dynasty are true.
Xia dynasty
Shang Dynasty
1500 BC First dynasty to have been proven by evidence
The King was the center of Shang political and religious life
Attacked neighboring lands and expanded territory.
Priests used oracle bones to make predictions
Society: royal family and nobles at highest level artisans at middle level farmers and slaves at lower level
Achievements: writing system, use of bronze, calendar, war chariots, and bows
Oracle Bones
What’s the importance of oracle bones for people living in China today?
Shang Bronze
Why would artisans have a higher social status in early Chinese civilization?
The Zhou Dynasty Create a chart in which identify the
characteristics of the Zhou Dynasty:
Government The Mandate of Heaven
Warring States Period Structure of SocietyFamily RelationshipsEconomy and TechnologyCultural Life
Qin DynastyUnited the Warring States
of ChinaGave himself title of Shi
Huangdi (“First Emperor”)Created the Great Wall to
defend from nomadic tribes in the North
Created standards that unified China’s economy and culture
Established a single language and characters.
Produced uniform coins to be used as currency.
Qin DynastyEstablished a central
governing system. 36 different provinces that
reported to the EmperorTo prevent rebellion, he
moved noble families to the capital.
Created harsh rules Adopted idea of Legalism
Strong leader and strong legal system needed to create social order.
Censored ideas he found dangerous
Implemented harsh laws
Fall of the Qin DynastySucceeded in creating
a united China but dynasty collapsed fast.
Rebellions started because of the dynasty’s harsh laws.
China came back to chaos, with kingdoms fighting each other again.
Han Dynasty Strong Central
GovernmentExpansion of ChinaCivil Service
System of government employees mainly selected for skills and knowledge
Silk RoadTrade RouteExchange of goodsSafer route to trade
Newscast Qin and Han Dynasties
Qin Dynasty Han DynastyDefending the Empire
Uniform Standards and the Organization of the Empire
Rule of the First EmperorLegalist GovernmentHarsh LawsThought Control
The Fall of the Qin Dynasty
Reuniting and Expanding China
The Structure of Government
Civil Service
The Silk Road