Ancient China

The Geography

The Shang Dynasty

The Chou Dynasty

Government and Daily Life

Ancient China: The Geography

China’s size reflects the diversity of its terrain

Terrain is the type of land described by their physical features

South is comprised has of dense rainforests, north is covered with deserts and west is covered with mountain ranges

In north Gobi Desert is comprised mostly of mountains not deserts

The Yellow River

Ancient China: The Geography

Himalayans Mountains highest in the world

Melting snow from mountains creates the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers

Yellow river gets coloration from yellow dust from mountains

Rainfall decided on crop that would grow (wheat, millet and rice)

Ancient China: The Geography

Civilization in ancient China similar to Mesopotamia, Egypt and Indus Valleys

Created irrigation canals from Yellow River to water fields similar to other civilizations

Used geographic surveys to predict annual flooding of Yellow and Yangtze Rivers

The Shang Dynasty 1700-1027 B.C.

Succeeded the last Xia ruler by rebellion Economy was based on agriculture, silk trade,

jade jewelry, and bronze Shang kings ruled the capital and surrounding

region Appointed relatives to rule areas surrounding the

capital Relied on an organized military and cities

surrounded by protective walls to maintain order in empire

The Shang Dynasty: Cultural Achievements

Writing system used ideograms

Ideograms were illustrations that stood for a sound

Had over 50,000 characters

Bronze pottery and weaponry high achievements in craftsmanship

The Shang Dynasty: Religion

Believed Pang-Gu, a great dragon created the earth

Goddess Nuwa created the people but there were class distinctions

Majority of gods are connected to nature to answer the mysterious of the world

Also had demons, ghosts and monsters

The Shang Dynasty: Religion

Ancestor worship dead relatives were contacted to intervene and influence the gods through prayer

Sought to honor deeds, memories and sacrifice of dead

Chinese sought to read future through oracle-bones

The Shang Dynasty: Daily Life

Family was most important social unit

One members bad behavior disgraced entire family

Male’s had voice in family affairs

Children respected parents and long to raise own families

Females obeyed husbands

The Shang Dynasty: Society

Royalty and nobles lived in lavish tiled homes and palaces

Homes were scented by gardens or spices

Horses and clothes of silk signified social rank

Elaborate tombs like Egyptians but had guards and animals buried alive with them

The Shang Dynasty: Society

Warriors were of a special class (specialized soldiers)

Outfitted with best bronze weaponry and war chariots

Farmers worked land assigned to them by nobles

During harvest period lived in bamboo homes near fields and served nobles requests

Extremely poor even expected to pay homage to nobles

The Shang Dynasty: Society

Merchants and Craftsmen did not contribute food to nobles nor part of nobility

Placed outside of class system

Not valued as men and during times of war not considered worth protecting

The Chou Dynasty: 1115-227 B.C.

Defeated the Shang in 1115 B.C. To legitimize their rule they introduced the Mandate

of Heaven, the idea of rule by divine right Mandate of Heaven, stated that Heaven was

concerned with welfare of humans and that it appointed specific people to rule fair and wisely

If they ruled unfairly a family member or families could revolt and overthrow them

Winner of conflict was the one who had favor from Heaven and destined to rule

The Chou Dynasty: 1115-227 B.C.

Chou was longest ruling dynasty

Expanded their rule by building national road system and canal system to unify country

Introduced government control of agriculture, which provided government with surplus food for times of famine or war