Early Civilization in ChinaEarly Civilization in China

What Makes China What Makes China Unique?Unique?

• Geographic Barriers

• Outsiders attempted invasion (distrust of outsiders)

• Settlements along rivers (Huang He & Yangtze River)

• Need to control rivers led to the rise of strong governments

Notice how all of the dynasties of China

overlap in the same general area

Shang Dynasty ~ 1650 Shang Dynasty ~ 1650 B.C.EB.C.E

King = head of clan

Shang Di - Chief God◦ King had direct connection◦ Ancestors of families got gifts

from the gods

Most people = peasants◦ Worked the fields all day

Yin and Yang◦ Balance of the universe◦ Yin = Earth; Yang = Heaven

Zhou Dynasty ~ 1027 Zhou Dynasty ~ 1027 B.C.EB.C.E

Overthrow of Shang Dynasty was justified by “Mandate of Heaven”

◦ Cruel king lost favor of the gods

◦ Explained the rise & fall of dynasties

◦ As long as government is good & lives by Confucian ideals, it will keep the Mandate of Heaven.

◦ If the government becomes weak or corrupt, Heaven will withdraw its support & open the path for a new dynasty to rise up.

Natural disasters were seen as a sign that the Mandate of Heaven was lost!

Early Chinese Early Chinese AchievementsAchievements

Writing (Shang)◦ Oracle Bones – kings questioned

the gods, heated the bones until they cracked & looked for answers in the patterns.

Silk Making (Shang)◦ Only royals could afford material◦ Most valuable export

Astronomy (Han)◦ Helped make calendar

Economic Growth ~ 700-500 Economic Growth ~ 700-500 B.C.EB.C.EIronworking

◦More farm production

◦ Irrigation systems◦More food = greater

population

Commerce expanded through use of money◦Trade made easier◦Feudal lords

expanded lands

What was the What was the importance importance of silk to China?of silk to China?Silk (started in 1000 BCE)

◦ Thread spun from cocoons of silkworms◦ Major trade good◦ Guarded secret (remained so until the 1200’s)◦ Started the Silk Road trade route