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Ancient China
Geography
China’s geography played an important
role in its development.
Gobi Desert
Himalayas
• Chinese
civilization
begins along
the
Huang He
(Yellow)
River.
• Due to
unpredictable
flooding the
river was
know as the
River of
Sorrow.
Ancient
China map
Mythological rulers of ancient China
Pan Gu (P’an-ku) Creator of the universe
Pangu was said to be the
creation god in Chinese
mythology. He was a giant
sleeping in an egg of chaos.
As he awoke, he stood up and
divided the sky and the earth.
Pangu then died after standing
up, and his body turned into
rivers, mountains, plants,
animals, and everything else in
the world.
Fuxi (Fu-his) taught the people to hunt
& fish.
Shennong (Shen-nung) taught the
people agriculture.
Huangdi (Huang-ti) taught the
people silk-making.
Yu taught large scale irrigation &
flood control.
Lungshan & Yangshao:
First Cities
Achievements:
1. Developed the
potters wheel.
2. Developed baked
bricks for houses.
3. Harvested silk.
4. Developed irrigation
systems.
In 2200 B.C. a series of dynasties began to rule
in China.
What is a dynasty?
1. Xia Dynasty
2. Shang Dynasty
1700-1000 B.C.
Yin; the capital of Shang Dynasty.
Founded ca. 1384 B.C.E.
Social Class
Shang Social Order
King, royal family, nobles,
warriors
Craftworkers
Farmers
Slaves
Religion
Chinese practiced an
ancestor-worship where they
would call upon their
ancestors to help them.
Oracle bone; Divination was practiced by
heating tortoise shells till they cracked,
then studying the cracks. The prediction
was written on the shell.
Innovations and
Inventions
Writing
The Shang Dynasty developed a
writing system around 1766 B.C.E.
Bronze
The Shang also began to
work in bronze. Bronze is
a mixture of copper and
tin. The artisans
(craftworkers) would
make beautiful bronze
containers for cooking
and religious ceremonies.
The Shang also used bronze body armor,
powerful bows and war chariots in their
armies.
•Monopoly of Bronze weapons &
manufacturing. Death was the penalty
for making
bronze
without
royal
permission.
They also made axes,
knives, and ornaments
from a stone called
jade.
Traded cowry shells for money
Sericulture
The Shang
dynasty was
the first to
actively
cultivate silk.
• It was believed that rulers received their
authority from the gods. It was called “The
Mandate of Heaven.” As dynasties
weakened and new leaders arose, the
Chinese believed that the gods were
removing their mandate and giving it to
another.
Using this
philosophy, the
people rebelled
against the Shang.
This introduced
the 3rd dynasty.
The Zhou
Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty introduced feudalism.
Zhou Feudal Society
Emperor
Gives land
to nobles
Nobles
Nobles
Gives land
to the
farmers
Farmers
Farmers
Zhou Feudal Society
Emperor
Give their loyalty
and provide
military support
Nobles
Nobles
Farmers farm for
the lords and serve
in their armies
Farmers
Farmers
• This was a time of Feudalism government with
competing warlords.
• There were few great accomplishments in science,
art and literature, but China excelled in philosophy as
great Sages (wise men) tried to bring about Unity,
Peace & Prosperity.
Question Time!
1. What mountain range and desert isolate China?
2. What river did the Chinese civilization start along?
3. Who was the mythological ruler who created the universe?
4. What is a dynasty?
5. Name the first three dynasties of China?
6. What is bronze a mixture of?
7. What did they trade for money?
8. What is Sericulture?
9. What is the Mandate of Heaven?
10. What is feudalism?