CIVILIZATION IN THE YELLOW RIVER VALLEY

World History - Libertyville High School

Geographic Considerations

Ancient China was isolated Oceans to East Gobi Desert to North Mountains to West Mountains to South

Yellow and Yangtze Rivers formed corridor for irrigation River flooding was a

problem

Shang Dynasty (1800-1027 BC)

First dynasty confirmed in historical record

Info about dynasty comes from different sources Archaeological

record Oracle bones Writings

Shang Dynasty - Government

Military was maintained to fight against nomadic steppe people to N, W

King ruled rural land while nobles ruled semi-independent city-states Paid tribute to king in

exchange for food, trade

Shang Dynasty - Society

Very hierarchal, warlike Appear to have been

herders transitioning to agricultural lifestyle

Male dominated society Group was more important

than the individual Family was the center of

everyday life Ancestor worship was

common Isolation meant no trade;

thus, Chinese were self-sufficient

Shang Technology

Metallurgy Bronze metallurgy was

outstanding Iron casting introduced

late in kingdom; better than anything Europe had until middle ages

Military used chariots Writing system

Pictographic language Over 10,000 characters –

needed to know 1,500 to be barely literate!

Shang - Technology

Writing, continued Modern written

Chinese language a direct descendant of this ancient language

Language unified a large, diverse culture Remember how an

empire is unified…

Pictographs

Semantic-Phonetics

Zhou Dynasty (1027-256 BC)

Nomadic people who invaded, overthrew Shang

Absorbed Shang culture Mandate of Heaven

Belief that rulers were the “son of heaven” and governed by divine right

Dethronement of ruler proved that he had lost blessings of Gods to rule

Bad things happening in society meant the ruler was losing divine support

People were justified in revolting, overthrowing their king

Theory explained and justified the demise of the Xia, Shang dynasties and supported legitimacy of present and future rulers

Mandate of Heaven

The Dynastic Cycle, showing how the

Mandate of Heaven worked

The Dynastic Cycle, showing how the

Mandate of Heaven worked

Start here A new dynasty

comes to power.

A new dynasty

comes to power.

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Emperor isdefeated !!Emperor isdefeated !!

Zhou dynasty - Government

Transition from city states of Shang to more centralized system

Central government of Zhou exercised greater control over local government

Zhou Gong,Founder of Zhou Dynasty

Zhou - Technology

Built many roads, canals

Coined money which helped spur trade (why?)

Iron casting Iron weapons a

huge advance over bronze wielding nomads

Took Europe about 2000 years to catch up to Zhou

Zhou “spade”Coin, ca. 7th CBC

Fall of Zhou: “Time of Warring States”(481-256 BC)

Nomads from North, West sacked the capital and killed the king

Nobles asserted local power, refusing to be ruled by surviving members of the royal family

Period characterized by general collapse of Shang / Zhou civilization and values

Fall of Zhou / “Time of Warring States”

During this time, Sun Tzu wrote “The Art of War”

Also during this time, Confucianism and Taoism emerged as philosophical schools of thought