Chinese Dynasties 

Dynasty:ruling familyChina’s history can, in part, be seen as a series of dynasties.

Mandate of Heaven:the divine right to rule was given by God

The Chinese thought that the dynasties came in cycles.

Dynastic Cycle: explains the rise and fall of dynasties

Part A: Vocabulary1. The Huang He deposits loess when if

overflows its banks.2. A Chinese priest would scratch a

question for the gods on Oracle Bones.3. The idea that royal authority came from

Heaven is called the Mandate of Heaven.

4. The overthrow of an old dynasty was part of the Dynastic Cycle.

Part B: Using the textbook1. What environmental challenges did China’s early civilizations face?

Limited farmlandFloodsGeographic isolationinvaders

Part B: Using the textbook2. How did the Shang protect their cities?

Made massive earthen walls

Part B: Using the textbook3. What was

the main advantage

and disadvantage

of the Chinese writing system?

Advantage: -unified and easily spokenDisadvantage: -# of characters-only nobles learned to write

Shang Dynasty: (1650-1027BC)

earliest dynasty in Chinaused oracle bones to forecast the future

developed a system of writing using Chinese characters

Zhou Dynasty: (1027- 256 BC)

developed the idea of the Mandate of Heaven (justified the removal of the Shang dynasty)

Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism developed during this time

Discovered how to make silk from the silkworm

Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty:First dynasty to unify ChinaRuler described himself as Shi Huangdi-

“First Emperor”Huangdi (a legalist) kept strict control of learning, persecuted Confucian Scholars, and burnt the Analects

Developed a system of weights and measures

Built a large section of the Great Wall- built as a defensive barrier