Download Chapter 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations

Chapter 4: Ancient India and China
“”In the beginning there was as yet
no moral or social order. Men knew
their mothers only, not their fathers.
When hungry, they searched for
food; when satisfied, they threw
away the remnants. They devoured
their food hide and hair, drank the
blood, and clad themselves in skins
and rushes. Then came Fu Xi. He
taught his subjects to cook, to fish
with nets, and to hunt with weapons
made of iron. He instituted marriage
and offered the first sacrifices to
heaven.” Fu Xi also created the I
Ching.
Section 4: China’s First Dynasties
Main Idea
China’s river valley civilizations built the foundations of a
long-shared Chinese culture. The achievements of the
Shang and Zhou dynasties can be felt to this day.
Objectives
• How did China’s geography affect its early civilization?
• What were the achievements of the Shang dynasty?
• How did China change during the Zhou dynasty?
• What new philosophies were introduced in China?
Section 4: China’s First Dynasties
I. China’s Geography
River valleys, fertile soil, & temperate climates
aided development of civilization
Huang He (Yellow) River agriculture
A. Rivers, Soils, Climates
Two major rivers: Chang Jiang and Huang He;
people began growing crops 9000 years ago
Chang Jiang (Yangtze) –
3917 miles, #3
Huang He (Yellow “China’s Sorrow”) –
3398 miles, #6
Xi Jiang –
1376 miles, # 53
A. Rivers, Soils, Climates
Annual floods deposited silt; Huang He valley
has a fine, dusty, yellow soil called loess
Loess Plateau, China
Huang He (Yellow) River
A. Rivers, Soils, Climates
Northern China - climate cooler, drier; wheat is
principal crop
A. Rivers, Soils, Climates
Southern China - warm, plenty of rainfall; rice
is main crop
B. Isolation
Distance, mountains, and deserts isolated
China; resulted in a distinct culture
II. The Shang Dynasty
Beginning of Chinese civilization dated to
Shang dynasty
Approximate boundaries of Shang Dynasty
(c. 1766 – 1050 BC)
A. Government and Society
The Shang used irrigation and flood control; had
complex bureaucracy and powerful army
A. Government and Society
Farmers grew millet and rice, domesticated
animals, and raised silkworms
A. Government and Society
Artisans laid foundation for Chinese ceramic
art; potters used a white clay called kaolin
Shang Tomb Guardian
White Pottery, Shang Dynasty
B. Beliefs
Information comes from royal tombs: artifacts
and remains of sacrificed prisoners
B. Beliefs
Practiced ancestor worship and sought
guidance using oracle bones
III. The Zhou Dynasty
1100 BC – Shang defeated by the Zhou; rule
divided into two periods – Western and
Eastern Zhou
Zhou Wu Wang established the
Zhou Dynasty - the longest dynasty
in Chinese history. It lasted for over
800 years and included the reigns of
37 emperors. The achievements
during the Zhou Dynasty in
economy, politics, science and
culture were much more illustrious
than any which occurred during the
Shang Dynasty.
III. The Zhou Dynasty
Zhou believed the gods determined who should
rule - the “Mandate of Heaven”
III. The Zhou Dynasty
Decline of the Zhou resulted in Warring States
Period; Qin dynasty seized power
IV. New Philosophies
Most influential philosophies to emerge in late
Zhou period were Confucianism and Daoism
The water symbol represents the
'source of life' in Chinese philosophy
The Taijitu (yin and yang)
symbol
A. Confucianism
Confucius thought people should show respect,
do their duty, and honor ancestors
"If you govern your province
well and treat your people
kindly, your kingdom shall
not lose any war. If you
govern selfishly to your
people, your kingdom will
not only lose a war, but your
people will break away from
your kingdom."
A. Confucianism
His ideas on society were collected in the
Analects
Kongfuzi
551 BC - 479 BC
B. Daoism
Daoist follow the Dao to find their place in nature
and achieve harmony with universe
Daoism embraced the
Chinese concept of yin
and yang, representing the
balancing aspect of
nature—male, female;
dark, light; hot, cold.
Neither can exist without
the other
B. Daoism
Origins of Daoist teachings attributed to Lao zi;
wrote book called the Dao De Jing