Ancient China

GeographyGeography

China’s China’s geography played geography played an important role an important role in its in its development. development.

China is about China is about the same size as the same size as the United the United States. States.

There are several There are several physical barriers physical barriers that separates that separates China from its China from its neighborsneighbors

Over much of Over much of China’s north China’s north is a vast is a vast desert called desert called the Gobi the Gobi Desert. Desert.

To the west is To the west is a large area a large area of mountains. of mountains.

The The Himalayas Himalayas are a very are a very large large mountain mountain range that range that extends over extends over much of much of southwestern southwestern China. China. Ancient China was isolated from the rest of Ancient China was isolated from the rest of

the world.the world.

To the east To the east there are low there are low lying plains lying plains that make up that make up a very fertile a very fertile region for region for farming. farming.

Two great Two great rivers flow rivers flow from west to from west to east. The east. The Huang He Huang He and the and the Chang Jiang. Chang Jiang. Like other Like other rivers, they rivers, they would often would often flood flood leaving leaving fertile silt fertile silt on the land.on the land.

Government:Government:

DynastiesDynasties

Xia DynastyXia Dynasty

•In 2200 BC a series of dynasties began to rule China.

•DynastyDynasty: a series of rulers from the same family.

•The first family that ruled were the XiaXia.

•The first ruler of the Xia was Yu Yu the Great. the Great.

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty

In the 1500s BC1500s BC, a new family rose to power- the ShangShang.

They ruled with a monarchymonarchy.

The king would have advisors who helped him rule.

Social ClassSocial Class

(Shang)(Shang)

King, royal family, nobles,

warriors

Craftworkers

Farmers

Slaves

Shang Social Order

Innovations and Innovations and InventionsInventions

(Shang)(Shang)

China’s first writing system. It contained over 2000 symbols to

represent ideas and words.

Oracle BonesOracle Bones

Priests would carve writing

on animal bones or turtle shells asking

the gods about the future.

The bones would then be

heated and cooled

resulting in cracks. The priest would

read the cracks and

‘predict’ the future and then would advise the

king.

The Shang also began to work in

bronze. BronzeBronze is a mixture of copper

and tin. The artisans

(craftworkers) would make beautiful

bronze containers for cooking and

religious ceremonies.

They also made axes, knives, and ornaments

from a stone called jade.jade.

The Shang also used bronze body armorbronze body armor, powerful bowspowerful bows and war chariotswar chariots in their

armies.

ReligionReligion

Chinese practiced an Chinese practiced an ancestor-worship where ancestor-worship where

they would call upon they would call upon their ancestors to help their ancestors to help

them.them.

Zhou DynastyZhou Dynasty

In the 1100s BC1100s BC the ZhouZhou came

into power. They believed they had the Mandate of Mandate of

Tien or HeavenTien or Heaven to rule. According to

this rule, the supreme god

supported good rulers of the Zhou.

This Mandate of Mandate of HeavenHeaven would

only support good kings. If a king was found to be

bad, then Heaven would support another leader.

Using this philosophy they rebelled against

the Shang.

Government: Government:

ZhouZhou

The Zhou introduced a new system of government called feudalismfeudalism.

The king would grant land to war leaders called lords, and in return they would have to give their loyalty to the king and provide

military support.

The lords would grant land to farmers, and in return they would have to work some of

the land for the lords and serve in their armies.

Emperor

Nobles Nobles

Farmers Farmers

Gives land to nobles

Gives land to the

farmers

Zhou Feudal Society

Emperor

Nobles Nobles

Farmers Farmers

Farmers farm for the lords and serve

in their armies

Give their loyalty and provide

military support

Zhou Feudal Society

Zhou Social OrderZhou Social Order

EmperorEmperor

Lords Lords ((landowners)landowners)

Farmers or PeasantsFarmers or Peasants