River Dynasties in China

Ch. 2, Sec. 4 (pp. 50 - 55)

Geographic Features• Many natural barriers

– Pacific Ocean & Yellow Sea to east– Himalaya Mountains to west– Gobi Desert to north

• River Systems– Huang He (Yellow River)

• Gets name from loess deposits

– Chiang Jiang (Yangtze River)

The Yellow River

Environmental Challenges• Unpredictable devastating floods

– Known as “China’s Sorrow”

• Isolation meant no trade• Natural borders didn’t always protect

from outsiders• Only 10% of China is suitable for

farming– Known as “China’s Heartland”

China’s Heartland

Settlements• Shang Dynasty (~1700 B.C. to 1027

B.C.) were first people to leave written records

• Anyang was a capital of Shang Dynasty– Made mostly of wood– Surrounded by giant earth wall

Anyang Ancient City Walls

Social Classes• Society was sharply divided b/t nobles

& peasants– King’s ruled (highest class)– Warrior-nobles owned land, paid tribute &

helped govern (middle class)– Villagers labored in the fields (lower class)

Role of Family• Family was central to society

• Men made familial decisions & owned property– Women were treated as inferior

• Respect for one’s parents was crucial

Filial Piety

Religious beliefs• Families paid respect to ancestors

• Shang kings consulted gods using scratched animal bones (oracle bones)

An Oracle Bone

Writing System• All Chinese writing was the same, where as

Chinese spoke different languages in different regions– Think of it as: English, French & Spanish people

can all understand when they read “2 + 2 = 4” whereas only English speakers can understand when they hear “two plus two equals four”

• There is an enormous amount of characters (more than 10,000)

Technological advances• Developed bronze tools/weapons

• Used war-chariots

• Silk textiles

Model of Shang Chariot

Artistry• Bronze jars, pottery & plaques

The Zhou Dynasty• Around 1027 B.C., the Zhou overthrew

the Shang & established their own dynasty

• To justify their conquest, Zhou leaders said that the Shang king had been a poor king, so the gods had taken away his right to rule and given it to the Zhou– Known as the Mandate of Heaven (the

fact that god gives the ruler power to rule)

The Mandate of Heaven

The Chinese Dynastic CycleRise > Decline > Replacement

Feudalism• Nobles (lords) were granted the use of

the king’s land

• In return, nobles (lords) had to give loyalty & military service to the king

Confucianism on Chinese Culture…Confucius says…

• Confucius believed that social order, harmony, & good govt could be restored in China if society were organized around 5 relationships.– 1. ruler & subject– 2. father & son– 3. husband & wife– 4. older brother & younger brother – 5. Friend & friend

(3 of these 5 based on family)

Confucianism on Chinese Culture…Confucius says…

• Confucius & the examination system

Confucius said that education could transform a humbly (poor) person into a gentlemen.

Before the Confucian Examination System, state officials were selected based on recommendations by prominent aristocrats or state officials. Theoretically, a person from any economical or social background had a chance to become a state official by passing the exam. The exam was used up until 1905 (fall of Qing dynasty), spanning over a course of 1300 years.

The Warring States Period• Zhou ruled a relatively stable empire from

1027 B.C. to ~500 B.C.• By 771 B.C., Zhou kings began to lose their

power to nomads & regional leaders• China entered a major period of Civil War

known as the “Warring States Period” in which Chinese warlords constantly fought for control of territory