Themes Across Cultures:

Ancient China

AP World History

LSW

State-building, expansion, and conflict• Political structures and forms of governance

• Empires• Nations and nationalism• Revolts and revolutions

• Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations

Xia: 2200-1767 BCE

Established dynastic precedent

Form of Government: Monarchy, Sage King Yu, Legend says tamed the Yellow River

Large scale public work projects helped to establish recognized authorities and formal political institutions

Encouraged the founding of cities and development of metallurgy (Bronze weapons to maintain control)

Traded with nomadic groups from Central Asia, offered animals (horses esp.) in exchange for agriculture and metals

State-building, expansion, and conflict• Political structures and forms of governance

• Empires• Nations and nationalism• Revolts and revolutions

• Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations

Shang: 1766-1122 BCE

Took over after replacing despotic Xia ruler, originated to the South and East of Xia

Used bronze weaponry and horse drawn chariots to extend rule

No codified law but rulers made decrees and trusted military to enforce

Claimed surplus of agriculture from conquered areas to support the state and military

Rulers relied on local rulers who recognized Shang authority, at one point Shang emperors may have controlled more than 1,000 towns

Construction of immense city walls (33 ft. high, 66 ft. wide) around capital, Ao…required the labor of 10,000 workers for 20 years

Shang emperors buried with family, servants, others

State-building, expansion, and conflict• Political structures and forms of governance

• Empires• Nations and nationalism• Revolts and revolutions

• Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations

Zhou: 1122-256 BCEPeople that at one time allied

with the Shang and were rulers in the West

Shang dynasty declined under foolish ruler, many cities transferred their loyalty to Zhou rulers, eventually Zhou dynasty toppled Shang rule

Promulgated the “Mandate of Heaven” idea (justified Zhou dynasty in taking over)

Dynasty so large that the dynasty employed decentralized admin.: entrusting power, authority and responsibility to subordinates who were loyal to central government

Surrounding cities ruled by emperor’s family who paid tribute through taxes and appearances at court

Arranged marriages between newly conquered areas

Eventually collapsed as leaders from outlying regions strengthened themselves and nomadic peoples from the West attacked

Interaction between humans and the environment

• Demography and disease• Migration

• Patterns of settlement• Technology

Xia: Agricultural practices helped to fuel

growth in population around Yellow River (rich fertile soil)

Building dikes to control the Yellow River Fine painted potteryLarge oar propelled vessels Bronze implements and tools brought

from nomadic peoples from the West

Interaction between humans and the environment

• Demography and disease• Migration

• Patterns of settlement• Technology

Shang DynastyHeight of bronze implements, used as

tools, weaponsChariots used in military campaigns to

great effect Large scale public works projects,

continued work on Yellow River, large city walls around capital, burial tombs

Beginning of writing (Oracle Bones)

Interaction between humans and the environment

• Demography and disease• Migration

• Patterns of settlement• Technology

Zhou Development of Iron for tools and weapons

(worked in favor of decentralized rulers)Jewelers, jade workers, embroiderers and

manufactures of silk textiles specialized in their industry

Navigation of ships by the stars Books of poetry, history, manuals dealing

with moral, religious, philosophical and political themes

Development and transformation of social structures

• Gender roles and relations• Family and kinship

• Racial and ethnic constructions• Social and economic classes

 Xia, Shang, Zhou: Emperor and ruling

family Artisans, Peasants,

Slaves Patriarchal Veneration of elders

(men)

Some women recognized, Fu Hao consort to the Emperor performed sacrificial rites and led men into battle

Theme: Development and interaction of cultures• Religions

• Belief systems, philosophies, and ideologies• Science and technology

• The arts and architecture

Xia: Organized religion did not play as important a

role in China as it did in other early societies Impersonal heavenly power- ‘tian’ A few priests conducted ritual observances in

honor of royal ancestors at royal courts

Shang, Zhou: Writing with Oracle Bones, used by fortune

tellers, represented by pictographs and ideographs

Books of History, Etiquette, Rites, Poetry and Songs