Hsia Dynasty to Hsia Dynasty to the Qin Dynastythe Qin Dynasty

The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley River Valley

CulturesCultures

““Peking Man”Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BCE)(750,000 – 500,000 BCE)

SinanthropusSinanthropuspekinesispekinesis

Yellow River Yellow River CivilizationCivilization

People were from the Yangshao Culture

Best archaeological site for evidence of this group is called Ban Po

Neolithic Neolithic PotteryPottery

3000 BCE 3000 BCE toto

2000 BCE2000 BCE

夏朝

Yu, the Great – Yu, the Great – Founder Founder

of the of the HsiaHsiaReceived power when a leader named Shun

passed power to him because he was seen as a perfect civil servant. He eliminated flooding and built canals to benefit the people.

Instead of passing power to the most capable person he passed it downed to his son, starting the first Chinese Dynasty

““Huangdi”Huangdi” – Emperor – Emperor The “Yellow The “Yellow Emperor.” Emperor.” Legend has it Legend has it that that he ruled for over he ruled for over 100 years. 100 years. Associated with Associated with thethe invention of invention of wheeled wheeled vehicles,vehicles, ships, armor, ships, armor, pottery, and pottery, and silk-making. silk-making.

Emperor FuxiEmperor Fuxi Mythical Mythical HsiaHsia ruler. ruler.

Taught the Taught the Chinese how Chinese how to read and to read and write, write, according to according to legend. legend.

商朝

Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires

Shang: Shang: 1600-1046 1600-1046

BCEBCE

Surrounds the Yellow River

Started when they overthrow the Hsai (Xia)

Master craftsmen with Bronze

Used silk

Aristocrats waged war with each other

Begin ancestral worship

Strong belief in the after life

Held human sacrifices

Buried slaves alive with royal members

Oracle BonesOracle Bones

Oracle Bones Oracle Bones CalendarCalendar

The Evolution of The Evolution of ChineseChinese

Writing during Writing during the Shangthe Shang

PictograpPictographshs

Semantic-Semantic-PhoneticsPhonetics

Axe Scepter – Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE1100 BCE - jade- jade

Ceremonial Dagger – Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE1028 BCE

ShanShangg

UrnUrn

Shang Shang BronzesBronzes

Ritual Ritual Wine Wine

Vessel – Vessel – bronze, bronze,

13c BCE13c BCE

周朝

Take over after they revolted from the Shang

Divided the kingdom into territories, each with their own ruler

No real government power - Zhou ruled by alliances

Expanded territory to the Yangtze River (Central China)

Banned human sacrifice

Established a standard spoken language

Zhou loses control in 700’s BCE

Pendant of Pendant of a Dancer - a Dancer -

jade jade 3c BCE 3c BCE

(Eastern (Eastern Zhou)Zhou)

Ritual Wine Vessel Ritual Wine Vessel – 4c bronze, silver, – 4c bronze, silver,

gold, coppergold, copper

Zhou Coins - Zhou Coins - bronzebronze

Period of the Warring Period of the Warring StatesStates

““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”The Mandate of The Mandate of

HeavenHeaven1.1.The leader must lead by ability The leader must lead by ability

and and virtue. virtue.

2.2.The dynasty's leadership must The dynasty's leadership must be be justified by succeeding justified by succeeding generations.generations.

3.3.The mandate could be revoked The mandate could be revoked by by negligence and abuse; the will negligence and abuse; the will of of the people was important. the people was important.

TheDynastic

Cycle

A new dynasty

comes to power.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Emperor isdefeated !!

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

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