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Download Ancient China - Edinboro University
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Ancient China Effects of Geography • Access routes into China limited – China isolated – Limited outside cultural and political influence Zhōngguó Middle Kingdom • How is development in ancient China the same as that in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and India? • How is it different? • Geography? • Political and social organization? • Religion? Chinese Dynasties • “Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors” (“Culture Heroes and Sage Kings”) 2852 – 2205 BCE • Xia 2070–1766 BCE • Shang 1766 – 1122 BCE • Zhou 1122 – 481 BCE • “Warring States Period” • Qín Shǐ Huáng (259 – 210 BCE) – The “First Emperor” Yellow Yangzi Pearl • Homo Sapiens in China 50,000 – 20,000 ago • Yangshao Culture 5,000 – 3,500 BCE • Longshan Culture 4,000 – 2,000 BCE • c. 2,000 BCE, “civilization” • Dapenkeng Culture 5,000 – 2,500 BCE – Original source of Polynesian Culture ? Map 4.1 Early China: Geography and Climate. Shang Dynasty 1766 – 1122 BCE • “First genuine flowering of urban society in east Asia.” • Later than other areas we have seen, • However: – – – – – cities metal working social stratification religious and political organization written language Chinese Writing System • Invented by Cangjie, c. 2650 BCE • Earliest probable real use of ideograms as language in late Shang Dynasty 1,200–1,050 BCE ? “Mandate of Heaven” • Idea developed by the Duke of Zhou (c. 1045 BCE ?) • The right to rule China is granted by Heaven. • There can be only one legitimate ruler of China. • The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler and his good performance as a steward for Heaven. • The right to rule may be passed down from father to son, but only on the conditions established above. Chinese Society • Primarily agricultural • Artisans and merchants in towns • Patriarchal – Filial Piety Chinese Society • Status of women? – educated – eventually subordinated Religion • Local deities evolved from natural forces • Ancestors • Becomes more abstract during the Zhou dynasty • “Heaven” – “. . . A relatively neutral, impersonal controlling force of the universe.” The Emperor: 天子 “Son of Heaven” Map 4.4 Zhou China. Chapter 5 • Understand how civilizations in the America’s are different – What did they lack when compared to the Middle East, India, and China? 5000 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 China 1000 500 0 + Ideograms Sumerian culture / Empire Development of Towns Akkadian Babalonian Empire Development of towns Hittite Empire Assyrian Empire Hittites Phoenicians Judah / Israel Greeks Archaic - - - - - - - Classical - - - Classical - - - + cuneiform + Hieroglyphis + Iron + Bronze Copper c. 4300 Uruk copper plows potters wheel + Linear A + Linear B + Phonecian Egypt
