Download Ancient China

Ancient China
AP World I
Mr. Whalen
Geography of Ancient China

Located in Asia

Most isolated civilization (Many physical barriers)
Rivers
Huang He
(Yellow River)
Mountains
Himalayas
Tien Shan
Yangzi River
Deserts
Gobi Desert
Bo. Of Water
Pacific Ocean
Yellow Sea
East China Sea
Major Regions of Ancient China
1) River Valleys (Huang He and Yangzi)
A) Very fertile for crops
B) Used rivers for transportation
C) Majority of population lives here
Problem- Over flooding causes major
losses of life/property
Yangzi River
Major Regions of Ancient China
2) Mountain Region
(Manchuria, Mongolia, and Xinjiang)
-Rugged Terrain- High Altitudes
Tien Shan
Altai Mountains
Huang He River

Nicknamed the “River of
Sorrows”

Birthplace of Chinese History

Loess- Yellow soil that gives the
river its color

People constantly repair dikes
and dams to prevent floodingMost important task.

Irrigation systems- not elaborate

Mass destruction
Yellow River
Origins of Loess
Yangshao Society ( 5,000-3,000 B.C.E)
Located in the Middle of the Yellow
River Valley
Major archaeological find located in
one of its Neolithic villages- Banpo
Clues revealed at Banpo
-Discovered in 1952
-5 digs took place from 1952-1957
-Found 45 homes, thousands of
stone tools, several kilns, and 250
tombs
-Matriarchal society!!!!
Pottery founded at Banpo
What do these engravings on the
Pottery represent?
Early Dynasties
In Ancient China, there were three early dynasties
before the unification of China:
1) Xia
2) Shang
3) Zhou (W/E)
(2100 B.C.E.-1600 B.C.E)
(1600 B.C.E.-1046 B.C.E.)
(1046-B.C.E.- 221 B.C.E.)
Dynasty- a ruling family
At first, scholars were pessimistic of
Xia and Shang Dynasties existence
because they believed it was based on
myth and legend
What made these views change?
Xia Dynasty (2100-1600 B.C.E.)
• Founded by sage king- Yu
•Established hereditary rule- Meaning?
•Agrarian society/Bronze tools were
needed
•Relied heavily on public works projectscontrolling floods
•Originally viewed as a myth more than a
reality
•Erlitou- city discovered by
archaeologists- believed to be the capital
of the Xia Dynasty
Erlitou site
Shang Dynasty (1650-1027 B.C.)
1650 B.C.- The Shang people
control northern China
along the Huang He River
Role of technology
1) Bronze metallurgy
2) Horse-drawn chariots
Result?= Expansion into
Yellow River Valley and
Northeastern China
(Henan)
Political Organization
•Not centralized
•Local rulers recognized Shang kings
•Proclamations; not written law
•King was responsible for leading troops into
battle.
•Many nobles and princes controlled little
kingdoms
Clans- groups of families that have a
common ancestor
Capitals of the Shang
Capital moved around of several
occasions
2 Major Capitals
1) Ao- famous for its walled city
2) Yin- famous excavation site
Fu Hao- Consort of Emperor Wu
Ding
Tomb revealed major clues
http://depts.washington.edu
/chinaciv/archae/2fuhmain.
htm
Religious Beliefs of the Shang

Like many ancient civilizations, they prayed to many
different gods and spirits

Shang Di- Chief god of the Shang (Creator)

Kings of Dynasties were seen as the link between the
gods and man

Rituals/Ceremonies were vital to Shang Dynasty

Honoring (Veneration) Ancestors was extremely
important because they believed that by honoring their
ancestors, the ancestors would look after those on earth
Religious Beliefs of the Shang (Con’t)

The Shang believed that
their was a delicate
balance of the universe=
Yin and Yang
Yin= Earth, Darkness, and
Female Forces
Yin and Yang
Yang= Heaven, Light and Male
Forces
Necessary for harmony !!!
Example of concepts
Systems of writing

Ideographs- signs that express thoughts or ideas

Oracle Bones- oldest example of writing. Used to ask
questions to the gods/ancestors. Came from animals/
Turtle Shells

Calligraphy- fine hand writing
Problems with Chinese Writings/Language
Over time there were over ten thousand characters
(symbols) which represented different words. Memorizing
these characters can be very difficult
Example of Shang Oracle Bone. Priest
Would write a questions to the ancestor
Or god. Then they would heat the bone until
It cracks. They would then study the cracks
To help them answer the question
Chinese Calligraphy
Calligraphy today
Zhou Dynasty (1027-256 B.C.)

Started in Northwest China (Wei River Valley)

Overthrew the Shang Dynasty
Reason
The Shang lost the Mandate of Heaven.

Mandate of Heaven is the divine right to rule the people.

This power came from the gods

Emperor served as a link between heaven and earth= “Son of
Earth”
Dynastic Cycle
New Dynasty claims
The Mandate of
Heaven
Problems
Floods, Famine,
Earthquake,
Peasant Revolts
= Someone needs to
Restore order
The New Dynasty:
•Restores Peace
•Develops new projects
•Gives land to peasants
= Happiness/
Peace
Dynasty gets older,
And it begins to
Neglect its duties
Aging Dynasty
loses the
Mandate of
Heaven
Aging Dynasty
•Corrupt officials
•Ignore responsibilities
•Heavy Taxes
•= Resentment/Anger
Policies of the Zhou Dynasty
Government

Emperor lived in the capital at Hao

Feudalism- System where nobles exchange land to people. In
return these people provide Military service, Loyalty, and other
forms of retribution (Food, Money, etc)

Subordinate to the king
Reasons for decline of Zhou
1) Subordinates gained power as local ruler and challenged
authority
2) Loss of bronze monopoly
3) Iron was more abundant- therefore easier to produce weapons
771 B.C.E.
• Nomadic invaders raid the Western Zhou
•Imperial court moves East Luoyang
Period of the Warring States
•Lasted from 403-221 B.C.E.
•Frequent warfare between different
princes
256 B.C.E.- End of Zhou
221 B.C.E.- Start of the Qin Dynasty
Social Classes
Royal
Family
Nobles
Owned the land/provided
Military service
Artisans/Merchants
Produced goods for people through
Respective skills/trade
Peasants
Majority= Harsh lives (Grew crops, repaired walls,
Built dikes, fought in wars)
Chinese Achievements
A)
B)
C)
D)
Improved the Calendar
Bronze making
Silk making
Wrote 1st books
Example of Bronze
During the Shang
Silk Farm
Book of Songs
As seen here, one would boil
The cocoons of silk worms
And use the silk for clothing