Download China

Early Development
of China
September 10, 2012
6th Hour
By Connor, Jessee, Jacob, and Ian
Political
By the Zhou Dynasty a political ideology had occurred
during the early civilization of China. A ruler over China
had emerged who was known as the “Son of Heaven”.
He was a monarch and by the “Mandate of Heaven” (his
political ideology) he had to rule with benevolence to
maintain social harmony. The Chinese government was
extremely centralized, giving great power to a small
group or person.
Interaction with Environment
The early Chinese civilization altered the
flow of water making great flood channels.
The altered flow of water created great
channels which aloud water in different
areas of the early Chinese civilization
allowing huge flood planes which greatly
altered the early Chinese environment,
helping agriculture greatly.
Religions and Belief
Systems
The Shang Dynasty beliefs were the basis of
Confucianism and Chinese thinking. They
focused on their ancestors, having more than 5
rituals specifically “hosting” them. Their chief
god was “Di”. He was believed to be able to
control nature and send good fortune or
disaster to those who deserved it. Their
deceased kings were often referred to with a
“Di-” in front of their name, showing their
respect of their elders and their religious status.
(Theobald 3)
Arts and Sciences
The Shang Dynasty was the first time
bronze tools and ritual bronze vessels were
produced in royal workshops. The
workshops casted items with bronze such
as jewelry and weapons. (Theobald,1)
Pottery, also known as ceramics, were also
an important part of the Shang workshops.
Some of the pottery is carved with patterns
that are identical with the decorations seen
on the jewelery. (Theobald, 2)
(above) an unearthed ancient Chinese relic,
believed to be used for rituals.
(left) Examples of animal-shaped Jade
carving materials. (Theobald, 2)
Technology
Wu, an early Chinese monarch of the Xia
Dynasty developed Flood Control Projects to
control water flow. This was a technological
advancement of great scale because the
Chinese could regulate water flow to different
areas over large distances. A writing system
existed in China in ancient times. It used
oracle bones and pictographs, it was
originally used for divination (predicting the
future) and was used in the Shang dynasty’s
royal court.
Economic
The Chinese economy was agriculture centric (very usual
in that period), using the silk road to trade goods,
technologies, and ideas greatly expanded the Chinese
economy. Also the silk road enabled trans-civilization and
trans-ecological exchanges to occur, aiding the complex
society even more. The Chinese labor force, which built
many great palaces and tombs, was seldom comprised of
slaves.
Social
Chinese monarchs bestowed
special clothing, banners, chariots,
weapons and ornaments. These gifts
were regulated by social class and their
roles in the government as a whole. For
example, a General may get a chariot,
whereas a scribe may get clothing. The
poor did intense physical labor
whereas the wealthy did no physical
labor and had better material goods.
Map
Sources
Strayer, Robert W. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. Print.
Theobald, Ulrich. Technology N.P.2000. 9-11-12 http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Myth/shang-tech.html. Web.
Theobald, Ulrich. Arts N.P. 2000. 9-11-12 http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Myth/shang-arts.html. Web.
Theobald, Ulrich. Religion N.P. 2000. 9-11-12 http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Myth/shang-religion.html. Web.
Christian, David. "Silk Roads or Steppe Roads? The Silk Roads in World History." Journal of World History 11.1 (2000): 1-26. Print.