Early China-Chapter 2Mrs. Dell

Geography and Resources

China is isolated: Himalayan, Pamir, and Tian mnts

Takla Maka and Gobi desertThe Pacific Ocean

Climate in E. Asia ranges from dry to sub-arctic and sub-tropic

Climate determines the kinds of crops that could be grown

E. river valleys and N. China plains contained: timber, stone, deposits of metal, and productive land

Huang He= Yellow RiverNicknamed “Yellow river” because of the loessFlooding of the Yellow river led to the

construction of dikes & channels

Yellow River

Impact of Geography Long distances and physical barriers isolated

China, blocking cultural diffusion

Protects China from invasion

Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the “center of the earth,” and the only civilization

Xia DynastyThe Xia dynasty had a well-organized

structure with social classes and a centralized government

Chinese stories place Xia in control of the Yellow River valley

The Xia state gradually gave way to the Shang dynasty

Most historians start Chinese history with the Shang Dynasty because it coincides with the earliest written records

Shang Dynasty (1750-1027BCE)

•Originated in Yellow River Valley•King and his core ruled the main area directly – members of royal family& high-ranking nobility governed outlying provinces•King would travel to ensure the subordinates’ loyalty•Capital of the Kingdom changed numerous times

Shang CitiesCenters of political and religious controlSurrounded by big walls (stone in short

supply-built w/ wood & dried mud)Centers contained palaces, storehouses,

admin building, royal tombs, shrines, etc…Common people lived in agricultural villagesShang kings took a large portion of their peasants’

harvests for the army and their friends. The military was large and powerful

Society and TechnologyPictograms and phonetic symbols used to form

complex writing system

Only small, educated elite mastered the writing

Bronze is used as a sign of nobility

Bronze= copper + tin

Also had valued commodities for trade: jade, ivory, mother of pearl….

Zhou Period (1027-221 BCE)We don’t know much about how the Xia and

Shang kept order, but we know a lot about the Zhou dynasty. Longest dynasty- 800years

The Zhou allied with the Shang and then took over, ruling from 1122 BCE-256 BCE.

Politics & the Mandate of HeavenHeavenly powers gave the right to govern- called

the “mandate of heaven”- to a specially chosen person, the “Son of Heaven.” This person was the link between heaven and earth.

His job was to maintain order and harmony and keep high standards of honor and justice.

If he did his job, his rule would be peaceful. If he displeased heaven, his rule would become violent and chaotic. Heaven would then transfer the mandate to a different ruler.

Chinese dynasties used this theory to claim power well into the 20th century (1900’s.)

Chinese Dynastic Cycle

Zhou PoliticsThe Zhou dynasty was huge and could not

rule effectively with a centralized government.

So, the king relied on local government, who then paid tribute in the form of respect, goods, and money. They also provided soldiers.

Regional leaders had strong weapons and armor and their own armies, so they could rebel successfully.

Zhou Politics cont…In 771, invaders came during the rule of

an ineffective king who got no support from regional leaders. This permanently damaged the dynasty and there was continual civil war until the last Zhou king gave up his throne to the first Qin dynasty king.

Zhou SocietyNobles and rulers used lots of expensive bronze

and owned land. Many lived in cities and were educated. Their behavior was closely controlled by the rules of etiquette

The peasants, farmers who did not own land, were the largest social class in China

Slaves did manual labor and were often sacrificed during religious rituals.

WritingFortunetellers used oracle bones. These

animal bones were heated, and the resulting cracks studied. The diviner wrote the prediction on the bone. The early language used was pictographs, like Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The most famous writer from the Zhou dynasty is Confucius; we’ll study him during our unit on religion.

Zhou ContributionsPromoted linguistic unity= Mandarin ChineseOral epics and storiesLarge-scale public works projectsFirst people to make steel by removing carbon

during the iron-smelting process