Ancient Ancient ChinaChina

The Yellow River The Yellow River ValleyValley

AncientAncientRiver Valley River Valley

CulturesCultures

AncientAncientRiver Valley River Valley

CulturesCultures

Source:

Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires

Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires

Source:

GeograpGeographyhy

Modern China

China China vs. the vs. the U. S. in U. S. in

SizeSize

China China vs. the vs. the U. S. in U. S. in

SizeSize

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000250Miles

China3.7 mil sq miles

United States 3.6 mil sq miles

SOURCE: Topic 5: “The Awakening Giant” by Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University.

Satellite View of Satellite View of ChinaChina

Satellite View of Satellite View of ChinaChina

Percentages of Percentages of Different LandformsDifferent Landforms

Percentages of Percentages of Different LandformsDifferent Landforms

Arable LandArable LandArable LandArable Land

Population Population DensityDensity

Population Population DensityDensity

520 people per.sq. mile

2012

How would you characterize How would you characterize the geography of China?the geography of China?

In what way is the geography of In what way is the geography of China similar to the other innovative China similar to the other innovative sites?sites?In what significant way(s) is it In what significant way(s) is it different?different?What predictions can you make What predictions can you make about the development of China?about the development of China?

What features will be most significant in the development of Ancient China?

Tarim Basin endorheic basin (350,000 sq mi).

Gobi Desert

Pacific Ocean

Huang He

Yangzi

Southeast Asian Jungle

Himalaya Mountains

Monsoon Precipitation Monsoon Precipitation PatternsPatterns

Monsoon Precipitation Monsoon Precipitation PatternsPatterns

Prehistory: China

Peking ManPeking Man

700,000yrs old?

Where did Chinese culture begin?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qie8SekyM1E&feature=related

YangshaoYangshao

YangshaoYangshao

Yangshao PeriodYangshao Period5000BCE?

Matriclan

Painted Pottery Culture

Longshan PotteryLongshan Pottery

LongshanLongshan

Longshan PeriodLongshan Period2500BCE?

Black Pottery PeriodBronze

Patriarchy

Cultural Origins of later Chinese Dynasties

Development of a Complex Society and State

Urban Revolution

China’s Innovative Civilization?China’s Innovative Civilization?

What we Know…What we Know… Yellow RiverYellow River

– Millet (grain)Millet (grain) Shang CivilizationShang Civilization

– Oracle BonesOracle Bones– BurialBurial– Religious beliefsReligious beliefs

Zhou CivilizationZhou Civilization– Sima Qian (Han Sima Qian (Han

Records)Records)

What we don’t know…What we don’t know…

Did Qian’s Did Qian’s ‘mythological kings’ ‘mythological kings’ exist??exist??

Was the Xia Dynasty Was the Xia Dynasty the forerunner of the the forerunner of the Shang?Shang?

How early did Chinese How early did Chinese Civilization take root?Civilization take root?

The XSZ Project

Chinese Antiquity?

Xia Archeological Dig?

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty1750 BCE – 1050BCE1750 BCE – 1050BCE

•Eastern Yellow Eastern Yellow River :River :Anyang & ZhengzhouAnyang & Zhengzhou

•7 different successive capitals 7 different successive capitals (30 Kings)(30 Kings)•CitiesCities: :

•ruler’s palace in center ruler’s palace in center •surrounded by houses of surrounded by houses of artisansartisans

Archeological Evidence Archeological Evidence Suggests…Suggests…

Bronze Age (weapons, fittings for chariots Bronze Age (weapons, fittings for chariots & harness)& harness)

Tools were of stone & wood (No ploughs – Tools were of stone & wood (No ploughs – hoes, sickles)hoes, sickles)

Massive public works projects (walls- 27 ft high)Massive public works projects (walls- 27 ft high)Sacrifice – including humanSacrifice – including humanOracle Bones – divination (turtle shells)Oracle Bones – divination (turtle shells)

Earliest writing – Earliest writing – bamboo strips toobamboo strips tooVeneration of Ancestors- Highly ritualizedVeneration of Ancestors- Highly ritualizedShang-Ti (Supreme god over lesser gods)Shang-Ti (Supreme god over lesser gods)

Historians’ conclusionsHistorians’ conclusionsShang King – considerable powerShang King – considerable power

– Clans – warrior familiesClans – warrior families– Civilization held together by forceCivilization held together by force– Noble Families – NobleNoble Families – Noblewomenwomen exercised exercised

powerpower– Merchant & artisan class – jade, silk, potteryMerchant & artisan class – jade, silk, pottery

Little diffusion of culture beyond Shang Little diffusion of culture beyond Shang citiescities

Deterioration gave way to Zhou Deterioration gave way to Zhou dominancedominance

http://www.world-heritage-site.com/2011/10/30/yin-xu-video-gallery/

"Oh! of old the former kings of Xia cultivated earnestly their virtue, and then there were no calamities from Heaven. The spirits of the hills and rivers alike were all in tranquility; and the birds and beasts, the fishes and tortoises, all enjoyed their existence according to their nature. But their descendant did not follow their example, and great Heaven sent down calamities, employing the agency of our ruler- who was in possession of its favoring appointment.”

ZHOUZHOU

Zhou Dynasty: Zhou Dynasty: 1050-2561050-256

originally Semi-nomadicoriginally Semi-nomadicWest of ShangWest of ShangGained allegiance of discontented Gained allegiance of discontented

statesstates– Feudal System with vassal statesFeudal System with vassal states

Zhong Guo “Middle Kingdom”Zhong Guo “Middle Kingdom”T’ien Ming “Mandate of Heaven”T’ien Ming “Mandate of Heaven”Western Zhou Western Zhou (1050 – 771BC)(1050 – 771BC)

Western Zhou Western Zhou (1050 – (1050 – 771BC)771BC)

Capital at Capital at Xi’anXi’anAdopted much of Shang civilization Adopted much of Shang civilization

(writing, ritual, artisans, gods)(writing, ritual, artisans, gods)Assimilation as opposed to forceAssimilation as opposed to force

– Banned sacrificeBanned sacrifice– Promoted diffusion in and around the Promoted diffusion in and around the

cities – except for living quarters cities – except for living quarters remained separateremained separate

Later Periods: Eastern Later Periods: Eastern ZhouZhou

Capital at LoyangCapital at LoyangSpring and Autumn Period Spring and Autumn Period ((771-771-

401 BC) 401 BC)

Warring States Period Warring States Period (401-256 BC)(401-256 BC)

"The Period of The Hundred "The Period of The Hundred Schools" Schools" (551-233 BC)(551-233 BC) – Creative – Creative Period…Period…

Creative PeriodCreative Period unprecedented era of unprecedented era of cultural prosperitycultural prosperity

– reform and new ideas - attributed to the reform and new ideas - attributed to the struggle for survival struggle for survival

– skilled, literate officials and teachersskilled, literate officials and teachers

increasing increasing economic productioneconomic production to ensure to ensure a broader base for tax collectiona broader base for tax collection– commerce was stimulated through the commerce was stimulated through the

introduction of coinage and technological introduction of coinage and technological improvementsimprovements

Zhou Dynasties’ InnovationZhou Dynasties’ Innovation Advances in Advances in farming/food productionfarming/food production

– Ox-drawn ploughs Ox-drawn ploughs – large scale water projects for flood control and large scale water projects for flood control and

irrigation, canalsirrigation, canals Continued advances in Continued advances in weaponry/artisanryweaponry/artisanry

– Cross-bows Cross-bows – Iron metallurgyIron metallurgy– Lacquer-wareLacquer-ware

Prose, poetry, Prose, poetry, literatureliterature – ((I Ching, Book of Songs)I Ching, Book of Songs)

Law and Law and GovernmentGovernment– Codified lawCodified law– ShiShi – men of service (bureaucracy) – men of service (bureaucracy)

money economy – facilitate exchange and money economy – facilitate exchange and economic growtheconomic growth

Hundred Schools PeriodHundred Schools Period School of the Literati (School of the Literati (ConfucianismConfucianism))

– Confucius, MenciusConfucius, Mencius School of Law (School of Law (LegalismLegalism))

– Xun Zi, Han FeiziXun Zi, Han Feizi Daoism (Daoism (Taoism - DaoismTaoism - Daoism))

– Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi Lao Zi, Zhuang Zi

Sun Tzu Sun Tzu The Art of WarThe Art of War

What does the language of these texts tell us What does the language of these texts tell us about early Chinese beliefs and values?about early Chinese beliefs and values?

Confucius, Confucius, The AnalectsThe Analects

What the superior man seeks is in himself; What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others. what the small man seeks is in others.

By nature, men are nearly alike; by By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart. practice, they get to be wide apart.

To see what is right and not to do it is want To see what is right and not to do it is want of courage. of courage.

Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a Ignorance is the night of the mind, but a night without moon and star. night without moon and star.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. do and I understand.

The scholar who cherishes the love of The scholar who cherishes the love of comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar. comfort is not fit to be deemed a scholar.

Lao-tzu, Lao-tzu, The WayThe Way

Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of happiness.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

He who knows others is wise;He who know himself is enlightened.

To have little is to possess.To have plenty is to be perplexed.

People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge.

Cultural Impact of Geography???Cultural Impact of Geography???

Material force moves and flows in all Material force moves and flows in all directions and in all manners. Its two directions and in all manners. Its two elements unite and give rise to the elements unite and give rise to the concrete. Thus the multiplicity of things concrete. Thus the multiplicity of things and human beings is produced. In their and human beings is produced. In their ceaseless successions the two elements ceaseless successions the two elements of of yin and yangyin and yang constitute the great constitute the great principles of the universe.principles of the universe.

Source : Chang Tsai, Cheng-meng, Ch.1, in Wing-Tsit Chan, Source : Chang Tsai, Cheng-meng, Ch.1, in Wing-Tsit Chan, Chinese Philosophy, Chapter 30 Chinese Philosophy, Chapter 30 

“When the sun goes the moon comes; when the moon goes the sun comes. The sun and moon give way to each other and their brightness is produced. When the cold goes the heat comes; when the heat goes the cold comes. The cold and heat give way to each other and the round of the year is completed. That which goes wanes, and that which comes waxes. The waning and waxing affect each other and benefits are produced.”

-Ti Ching

Sun Tzu, Sun Tzu, The Art of WarThe Art of War

All war is deception. All war is deception.

He who is prudent and lies in wait for an He who is prudent and lies in wait for an enemy who is not, will be victorious. enemy who is not, will be victorious.

All men can see these tactics whereby I All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. strategy out of which victory is evolved.

What is significant???What is significant???

How did the Ancient River How did the Ancient River Valley sites of China work Valley sites of China work

to develop the roots of to develop the roots of Chinese Culture?Chinese Culture?