Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the work of artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Ancient China
Document related concepts
no text concepts found
Transcript
Ancient China The Geography The Shang Dynasty The Chou Dynasty Government and Daily Life Ancient China: The Geography China’s size reflects the diversity of its terrain Terrain is the type of land described by their physical features South is comprised has of dense rainforests, north is covered with deserts and west is covered with mountain ranges In north Gobi Desert is comprised mostly of mountains not deserts The Yellow River Ancient China: The Geography Himalayans Mountains highest in the world Melting snow from mountains creates the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers Yellow river gets coloration from yellow dust from mountains Rainfall decided on crop that would grow (wheat, millet and rice) Ancient China: The Geography Civilization in ancient China similar to Mesopotamia, Egypt and Indus Valleys Created irrigation canals from Yellow River to water fields similar to other civilizations Used geographic surveys to predict annual flooding of Yellow and Yangtze Rivers The Shang Dynasty 1700-1027 B.C. Succeeded the last Xia ruler by rebellion Economy was based on agriculture, silk trade, jade jewelry, and bronze Shang kings ruled the capital and surrounding region Appointed relatives to rule areas surrounding the capital Relied on an organized military and cities surrounded by protective walls to maintain order in empire The Shang Dynasty: Cultural Achievements Writing system used ideograms Ideograms were illustrations that stood for a sound Had over 50,000 characters Bronze pottery and weaponry high achievements in craftsmanship The Shang Dynasty: Religion Believed Pang-Gu, a great dragon created the earth Goddess Nuwa created the people but there were class distinctions Majority of gods are connected to nature to answer the mysterious of the world Also had demons, ghosts and monsters The Shang Dynasty: Religion Ancestor worship dead relatives were contacted to intervene and influence the gods through prayer Sought to honor deeds, memories and sacrifice of dead Chinese sought to read future through oraclebones The Shang Dynasty: Daily Life Family was most important social unit One members bad behavior disgraced entire family Male’s had voice in family affairs Children respected parents and long to raise own families Females obeyed husbands The Shang Dynasty: Society Royalty and nobles lived in lavish tiled homes and palaces Homes were scented by gardens or spices Horses and clothes of silk signified social rank Elaborate tombs like Egyptians but had guards and animals buried alive with them The Shang Dynasty: Society Warriors were of a special class (specialized soldiers) Outfitted with best bronze weaponry and war chariots Farmers worked land assigned to them by nobles During harvest period lived in bamboo homes near fields and served nobles requests Extremely poor even expected to pay homage to nobles The Shang Dynasty: Society Merchants and Craftsmen did not contribute food to nobles nor part of nobility Placed outside of class system Not valued as men and during times of war not considered worth protecting The Chou Dynasty: 1115-227 B.C. Defeated the Shang in 1115 B.C. To legitimize their rule they introduced the Mandate of Heaven, the idea of rule by divine right Mandate of Heaven, stated that Heaven was concerned with welfare of humans and that it appointed specific people to rule fair and wisely If they ruled unfairly a family member or families could revolt and overthrow them Winner of conflict was the one who had favor from Heaven and destined to rule The Chou Dynasty: 1115-227 B.C. Chou was longest ruling dynasty Expanded their rule by building national road system and canal system to unify country Introduced government control of agriculture, which provided government with surplus food for times of famine or war
