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Worksheet #______
Name:______________________
Eastern Civilizations: Period:______
Date:_________
Ms. Didyoung
The Xia Dynasty
According to ancient legends a series of kings first ruled over different
areas located all over China. Around 2200 B.C.E. one of these kings, Yu the
Great, is said to have founded the Xia (Shah) Dynasty, which is China’s first
dynasty. A dynasty is a family or group that maintains power for several
generations. For many years, the Xia Dynasty was thought to be a part of a myth
that the Chinese tell as part of their ancient oral histories. However, in 1959
archeological evidence was found that placed the Xia in the ancient city of
Yanshi. These excavations in the city of Yanshi uncovered what was most likely
the capital of the Xia Dynasty.
The establishment of the Xia Dynasty is an important milestone in the
history of Chinese civilization and marks the beginning of the Class Society.
Class Society is social classes of people that are arranged by their economic
and cultural groups.
Due to its location near the river, the civilization did flood (and still
does today). Yu the Great attempted to build channels over a period of ten years
to allow the flooding waters a place to go, however during the monsoon season it
is very difficult to control. It is Yu the Great who first set up the Xia Dynasty
under the Abdication System (choosing the leader according to ability). After
he died, his son Qi broke up that system and made himself emperor and from
that point forward the Xia used the Hereditary System (a system in which
rule and control are passed down from family member to family member).
During the Xia Dynasty many achievements were made. They made
advancements in agriculture and the cultivation of certain foods and farming
techniques. These techniques are still used today and there really has not been
much advancement in the farming of rural Chinese areas. They were also known
for smelting (melting metal from ore) which allowed them to make metal tools,
weapons, and jewelry. The Xia Dynasty also had craftwork made of bronze
embedded with jade.
The Xia Dynasty ended under the reign of Jie, a very notorious
tyrannical emperor in Chinese history who routinely mistreated his people.
After he succeeded to the throne, he lived an extravagant life without any
thought for his country or its people. He was also known for ruthlessly killing
religious leaders and political advisors who spoke out against his cruel
behaviors. All of his actions enraged the people so much that rebelled under the
leadership of Tang (the chief of the Shang tribe who later overthrew the Xia
Dynasty. The Xia Dynasty lasted nearly 500 years including the reigns of
seventeen different emperors before being overthrown.
Worksheet #______
Discussion Questions
1. What is the name of China’s first dynasty and when was it established?
2. What is a dynasty?
3. Who is Yu the Great?
4. What is a class society? Explain how class societies are part of the culture of
the United States today.
5. How did geography affect the Xia Dynasty? How did Yu the Great try to help?
6. Describe the difference between the abdication system and the hereditary
system. How are these systems used in our world today?
7. What are some of the advancements that came from the Xia Dynasty?
8. How did the Xia Dynasty end?