Download Ancient China

Ancient China
The 4 Old-World
River Valley Cultures
Early China
• The Chinese lived in isolation from the rest
of the world
• Middle Kingdom
• Less break between RVC and Classical in
China
Geography
• 3 Major rivers
–Huang He (Yellow River)
–Yangtze
–Xi Jiang
Geography
• Developed along the Huang He (Yellow River)
– WHY???
• Flooding
Partner Discussion
• Given what we have learned with
the previous three RVCs, what
might you conclude the Yellow
River’s flooding led the Chinese
to do?
Irrigation Systems
Four Thousand Years of Civilization
• Chinese civilization
• Many Technologies
Dynasties
• Dynasties
– Definition
• Dynastic Cycle
– Pattern
Shang Rule: c.1500 – 1100 B.C.E.
• The Shang Dynasty
(1500 to 1100 B.C.E. )
• Thirty kings
Shang Religion
• The Shang were polytheistic
• Ancestor Veneration
•
Significance
• Harmonious Connection Between Humans
and Nature
The Zhou Dynasty c.1046–256 B.C.E
• Overthrow of the
Shang 1046 B.C.E.
• Zhou Dynasty
– Claim Mandate of
Heaven
– What is this???
Mandate of Heaven
• Definition
• Importance
Zhou Expansion
• The Zhou set up…
• This led to…
Zhou Regional Rulers
• Ruled by regional
rulers
– Who were they?
• Peasants…
• Feudal…
Noblemen Grew in Power
• This form of
government…
• However…
• Why??
Discussion Question
• What do you suspect the
increased power of the
regional rulers meant for
the Zhou Dynasty?
Warring States
• Zhou fight a
rebellion in 771 B.C.E
– Result
• Competing interests
Science and Technology
•
•
•
•
By about 2000 B.C.E
Tools
Well Developed…
Military Technology:
– Horses
– Fortifications
Science and Technology
• Advanced
astronomy
• Lack monumental
building
– Why???
– Some tombs
The Beginning of
writing in China…
•Pictographs
Sun
eventually
developed
into…
Moon
Water
•Ideographs
•Developed into…
Modern Chinese characters Calligraphy ~ artistic writing
Trade and Interaction
• Overland Trade
• Contact with Nomadic peoples
– Northwest
• Effect:
– Positive
– Negative