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Characteristics of a Civilization Agriculture Specialization of labor Cities A social hierarchy (mandate of heaven) Religion/education (Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism) Complex forms of economic exchange Technology Development of the arts Importance of Rivers Population Growth Settlements began to pop up along the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers Need for recognized authorities who could maintain order, resolve disputes, and organize public works projects Small dynasties followed that extended their control over progressively larger regions Cities Vast network of walled towns Local rulers recognized authority of the Shang kings Capital at Yin contained a complex of royal palaces and eleven royal tombs Royal tomb at Anyang Yellow River Takes its name from loess soil Loess-extremely fine, powder-like soil Terrible floods: “China’s Sorrow” Wooden instruments could generate large harvests Agriculture Crops Initially, millet was the main crop (especially in the north) Sometime thereafter, the Chinese began cultivating rice Rice production would require a complex irrigation system Social Hierarchy Royal family and allied noble families Resided in large, palatial compounds lived on the agricultural surplus and taxes delivered by their subjects King Wen of Zhou China Social Hierarchy Privileged class Rose from the military allies of the rulers Possessed land and performed military and administrative tasks Some access to education for those who lived in cities Artisans and craftsmen Lived in cities Worked extensively for the privileged classes lived reasonably comfortably Social Hierarchy Peasants Lived in the countryside, did not own land Provided agricultural, military, and labor services for lords in exchange for: Land to cultivate Security Portion of the harvest Slaves Most were captured enemy warriors Performed manual labor Some were victims of human sacrifice during funerals and other ritual observances Political-Dynasties “A sequence of powerful leaders in the same family” Shang Dynasty 1766-1122 B.C. Zhou Dynasty 1122-256 B.C. Tang Dynasty 618-907 A.D. Song Dynasty 960- 1279 A.D. Shang Dynasty Political Dynasties were ruled by kings coming from the same blood lines Feudal system of government Smaller, more manageable chunks of land divided up amongst loyal aristocrats Feudal lords would provide crops/taxes to kings in exchange for land and protection Dynasties would begin and end with the “Mandate of Heaven” The belief that gods determined the rulers Political Some dynasties were more tolerant than others When the Qin came to power in 221 B.C. they ordered all books burned for fear they would inspire doubts about the government or encourage independent thought Economic Exchange Limited by geographic barriers Shipbuilding emerged during Zhou era Evidence of: Cowrie shells from Burma Military technology -Mesopotamia Jade from central Asia Tin from Malay Cowrie shells used as money Specialization Bronzesmiths Jewelers Jade workers Embroiderers Manufacturers of silk textiles Silkworms are fed mulberry leaves, they molt and spin cocoons, then workers boil the cocoons to produce the raw silk Silkworm cocoon Religion China did not have an organized religion or official priesthood Instead, the head of the family lead ceremonies worshipping ancestors’ spirits Burning paper gifts for the departed is one traditional form of ancestor worship Belief Systems Confucianism Purpose: fulfill one's role in society with honor and loyalty. Stresses honesty, politeness, loyalty to family and nation Daoism Purpose: inner harmony, peace, and longevity. Tao is everywhere “Go with the flow". Yin-yang Legalism Purpose: humans are inherently evil and inclined toward criminal and selfish behavior. Thus, if humans live naturally the result will be social disorder Oracle Bones • Fortune tellers of Ancient China • Questions were inscribed on a bone and placed in a fire • The fortune teller used the cracks that developed to answer the questions New Technologies The Chinese discovered how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms Silk became China’s most valuable export, eventually linking them with most of the world through trade Silk making New Technologies Shang nobles used bronze to make fittings for horse-drawn chariots Chinese learned to bind together long, thin strips of wood or bamboo to make books New Technologies • Iron technology was spreading rapidly throughout China • Iron ores were stronger, cheaper and more abundant than copper and tin Shang pictograph of composite bow New Technologies The Great Wall originated as a barrier against tribal intrusions Construction started in the seventh century BC Two sections were built during the Zhou era As China unified, the various sections were connected Writing The earliest form of Chinese writing was the pictograph Unlike most other languages, written Chinese did not include an alphabetic or phonetic component
