Download File

Patriarchy Quote Bellwork
• Explain what you think the following quote
means, also do you agree/disagree with this
quote. Why?
• “Myths born in patriarchy offer a limited
source of data on women. What they usually
tell is how women react under patriarchy.”
• Author Sue Monk Kidd
• CA: OPINION
Thesis Activity Bellwork
• Answer: Activity
• Correct Answer: Activity
• Get our a half sheet of paper and write your
thesis statement from your comparative essay
this weekend
Objective
• WWBAT: Introduce the basic characteristics of
the Ancient China civilizations and the
accomplishments of the Shang Dynasty
Interactive Notebook Setup
• 8/31/2015
• Ancient China Notes
• This will be on one page
Geography
Dates/Location
Government/Social Structure
Religion
Writing
The Geography of China
• Ancient Chinese
civilizations formed
around the Huang He
(Yellow) & Chang
Jiang (Yangtze) Rivers
• Flooding from these
rivers was
unpredictable
The Geography of China
• Because of features like
the Gobi & Taklimakan
Deserts and the
Himalayan mountains
Ancient China was quite
isolated
• As a result they did not
conduct much trade,
but rather produced
most of their own
products
Dates/Locations
• There is evidence of farming in China
beginning around 7,000 BCE
• The first dynasty that there is any evidence of
is the Xia (shyah) Dynasty
• However most information comes from legend
and oral histories and much of the evidence is
disputed
Dates/Locations
• The first dynasty to leave written records was
the Shang Dynasty
• The Shang Dynasty lasted from around 1750
BCE-1046 BCE
• The Shang Dynasty formed on the Huang He
River
Shang Dynasty Government
• The Shang Dynasty was ruled by an aristocracy
• An aristocracy is a form of government where
a elite group of wealthy families rule and pass
power from one generation to the next
• The majority of these aristocrats were
warriors
Shang Dynasty Government
• The only person above these aristocrats was
the king
• The king divided his kingdom into numerous
territories
• The aristocrats would govern these territories
as representatives of the king
Shang Dynasty Social Structure
• At the top of the social structure was the king
• Below the king were the aristocrats
• Below the aristocrats was the middle class, which was
composed of merchants and artisans
• Below the middle class were the commoners, which
were farmers and peasants
• The bottom of the social structure were slaves
Religion in the Shang Dynasty
• The people of the Shang Dynasty believed in
life after death
• They also believed their lives were directly
impacted by their ancestors
• They believed in honoring their ancestors
because they could bring both good and bad
fortune upon the living family members
Religion in the Shang Dynasty
• People of the Shang Dynasty believed in a
polytheistic religion
• The supreme deity in their religion was Shangdi
• Rulers and priest used things called oracle bones
to communicate with the gods
• Rulers would ask about coming battles, sickness,
invasions, major law decisions
Oracle Bones
Early Chinese Writing
• Written language was
pictographic &
ideographic
• Written language had
no connection to
spoken language
• Advantages and
disadvantages