Download China, unit 1 notes 2

Ancient China
I.
The geography of ancient China (p. 136-138)
A. Contrasting Landforms
1. North China Plain: East Asia
a. soil built up from Huang River
b. short rainy summers
c. overall, dry climate
2. southern China
a. warm & wet
b. heavy rain from monsoons (hurricanes) March to Sept.
Geography Continued
B. Effects on Civilization
1. mountains and seas separated China
a. Himalayan Mts., Gobi Desert, Taklimakan
Desert, Kunlun Mts., Yellow Sea, East China Sea,
South China Sea
b. Middle Kingdom = China, they viewed
themselves as being at the center (middle) of
the world
2. Rivers overflowed each spring = fertile soil
3. civilization started near Huang River, and later the
Chang River
C. Yellow River (Huang River)
1. loess: yellow-brown soil makes river look yellowish
2. floods yearly = fertile soil for growing millet (a
grain)
D. China’s Sorrow
1. Huang River
2. brought life (soil for food)
3. brought death: from floods
E. Flood Control
1. dikes built along Huang R.
a. protective wall to hold back flood waters
II. Early Civilization in China
A. Shang Dynasty (1st)
1. 1st civilization, 1760 B.C.
2. China’s 1st cities
3. accomplishments: bronze tools/weapons,
writing system (united people)
B. Zhou Dynasty (2nd)
1. west of Shang Dyn.
2. sometimes fought with Shang Dyn.
3. Zhou eventually conquered Shang Dyn.
4. Eastern Zhou Dyn. & Western Zhou Dyn.
a. Western older, Eastern newer
b. Warring States (small kingdoms fighting) ended Zhou Dyn.
5. Qin (chin) Dynasty came next
C. Mandate of Heaven
1. the idea that it was fate or destiny for a ruler to take over in
China
a. mandate = law or an order
2. also gave a father authority over his family
III. Importance of Family
A. Family center of Chinese society
1. family more important than nation or individual
2. 1st responsibility: family
3. families took care of each other
B. Traditional Families
1. up to 5 generations in one household
2. young children with great-great grandparents, parents,
aunts/uncles, cousins, sisters/brothers, etc.
3. extended family: closely related people all living
together
a. wealthy: all in one house
b. poor farmers: multiple small cottages
C. Family Authority
1. a person’s status (importance) depended on gender
& age
2. oldest male at head of the family
a. decided: who children/grandchildren could
marry, most major household decisions
D. Women’s Roles
1. women had lower status then men
2. 3 obediences:
a. obedient to father when young
b. to husband when married
c. to sons if widowed
3. 4 virtues (qualities)
a. morality, modesty, proper speech, domestic skills
4. when married, women left their household to become
part of her husband’s family
E. Family Names
1. family names passed from fathers to sons
2. people had a first name and a last name
3. family name comes first (opposite of U.S.A.)