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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?