Geography of China and the Shang Dynasty

By: Kevin Foley, Ava Demanes, and Mary Tarantino

Geography Influencing Early Chinese Civilization

• Geography made it difficult to spread ideas, goods to China – Chinese civilization developed very distinctly

• China was semi isolated by Mountains and Deserts to the West, Rivers to the South, Seas to the East, and Mountains to the North.

• the mountains helped maintaining the different cultures

Geography influencing early Chinese Civilization

• Two River Systems:– Two major river systems flow toward the Pacific

Ocean –• central Chang Jiang (Yangtze); northern Huang He

(Yellow River)

– River floodwaters deposit silt; create fertile soil for farming –• North China Plain is between rivers; is the center of

Chinese civilization

~Mountains and Rivers are two of the major features in China. ~The mountains served somewhat as a barrier and the rivers served as a big role in transportation.

The Shang Dynasty

• It has the earliest recorded written history.• The Shang dynasty ruled parts of northern and

central China• Its capital city was located at Anyang near the

border of Henan

The Shang Dynasty

• Established by King Tang in 1675 BC• Lasted over 600 years, ruled by over 30

emperors• Once thought to be a myth, however it is now

considered a true dynasty. • The king was overthrown by the Zhou dynasty

in 1028 B.C.

The Shang Dynasty

• One of most important developments of Shang was the invention of writing.– The first group of people from China that had

written records found today. – Most common place writings are found is on

oracle bones used for divination. • bones used for this originally came from a number of

animals, but were eventually done only on turtle shells.

The Shang Dynasty

• The Shang Dynasty was an Aristocratic society, – King ruling over the military nobility

• Underneath the Aristocratic class was the priest class. – The priests kept the records of the government and

were also in charge of religion.

• Religion in the Shang dynasty was based on ancestor worship and a worship of many gods– Main god was known as Shang Ti, the Lord on High.

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huMMLytz8aw&feature=related

Work Cited• http://www.kidport.com/reflib/worldgeography/China/China.htm• http://www.chinatownconnection.com/shang-dynasty.htm• http://www.travel-china.net/china-travel-attractions.html• http://library.thinkquest.org/12255/library/dynasty/shang.html• http://www.miktamchinese.com/englishvs/pictures.php• http://home.flash.net/~cameron/calligraphy/scripts/

script_styles.htm• http://www.flickr.com/photos/16090957@N06/1797193886/• http://www.chinatownconnection.com/qin-dynasty.htm• http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/shang/• http://www.kidspast.com/world-history/0127-shang-dynasty.php