Unit 1: From Pre-History Unit 1: From Pre-History to Early Civilizationsto Early Civilizations

Chapter 4: Ancient China Chapter 4: Ancient China

Section I: Early Civilizations in ChinaSection I: Early Civilizations in China(Pages 72-79)(Pages 72-79)

Section I: Early Civilizations in ChinaSection I: Early Civilizations in China(Pages 72-79)(Pages 72-79)

This section is about: How China’s geography

(mountain barriers and rivers) influenced the development of civilization while also isolating it from outside influences.

Life in China during the Shang Dynasty.

How different social classes developed in China.

Geography is very important in the civilizations of Geography is very important in the civilizations of China.China.

China has many different physical features, and China has many different physical features, and climates.climates.

•Let’s look at the stanza from a poem on page 72

•Would this be a “primary source” or “secondary source”?

One thing that made China different One thing that made China different than most places is: it can be hard to than most places is: it can be hard to

get into.get into.

7000 BC 4000 BC-1000 BC7000 BC 4000 BC-1000 BC The first farming The first farming

communities arose in communities arose in China.China.

They had soil rich in loess – They had soil rich in loess – a fine grained soil thata fine grained soil that’’s s easy to work in and is rich easy to work in and is rich in minerals (very fertile).in minerals (very fertile).

An agricultural revolution An agricultural revolution took place.took place.

Rich soils from yearly Rich soils from yearly monsoons and flooding monsoons and flooding rivers gave them plenty of rivers gave them plenty of water.water.

They also developed new They also developed new and better farming tools.and better farming tools.

In the Huang He (Yellow In the Huang He (Yellow River valley) farmers grew River valley) farmers grew rice and other grains and rice and other grains and raised sheep and cattle.raised sheep and cattle.

These farmers and the These farmers and the people in these villages people in these villages worked well together to dig worked well together to dig canals and build flood canals and build flood walls.walls.

The Shang The Shang built Chinabuilt China’’s first dynasty s first dynasty (about 1750 BC – 1000 BC)(about 1750 BC – 1000 BC)

At this time, a number of At this time, a number of clansclans (extended families) (extended families) formed a loosely knit formed a loosely knit group.group.

Archeologists have found Archeologists have found remains of some of their remains of some of their walled cities – complete walled cities – complete with palaces and tombs.with palaces and tombs.

The King usually had a The King usually had a prince or noble to help prince or noble to help him keep control in far him keep control in far away areas.away areas.

Shang armies used Shang armies used chariots and bronze chariots and bronze weapons against their weapons against their enemies.enemies.

Religious beliefs were very important to the ancient Religious beliefs were very important to the ancient ChineseChinese

One of their beliefs: One of their beliefs: ancestorancestor worship worship

They buried dead They buried dead relatives with food and relatives with food and drink (they wanted them drink (they wanted them to bring them good to bring them good fortune).fortune).

And – showing respect to And – showing respect to people whopeople who’’ve come ve come before you is important before you is important in a lot of Asian cultures.in a lot of Asian cultures.

The Shang also believed The Shang also believed these dead ancestors these dead ancestors had a close link with a had a close link with a powerful god.powerful god.

They also They also ““readread”” oracleoracle bones. bones.

a person, place or thing that a god uses to revel hidden knowledge

The Shang were also the first Chinese The Shang were also the first Chinese writerswriters

The writing on The writing on the oracle bones the oracle bones (from tombs) are (from tombs) are thought to be thought to be some of the some of the earliest Chinese earliest Chinese writing.writing.

At the time, At the time, though: though: language and language and writing wasnwriting wasn’’t the t the same throughout same throughout China.China.

Shang social classes:Shang social classes: The King was the warrior / The King was the warrior /

leader and lived in a leader and lived in a palace.palace.

Right below them were Right below them were warrior nobles (some of warrior nobles (some of which controlled their own which controlled their own territories)territories)

Most Shang were peasant Most Shang were peasant farmers… farmers…

……who lived in huts with who lived in huts with dirt floors, worked long dirt floors, worked long hours, used simple stone hours, used simple stone and wood tools, and were and wood tools, and were ordered to fight if a war ordered to fight if a war broke out.broke out.

Shang artisans and Shang artisans and merchantsmerchants

Had no official rank.Had no official rank. They were pretty They were pretty

much around to much around to create things and sell create things and sell them to the nobles them to the nobles (peasants didn(peasants didn’’t t need their products).need their products).

A lot of things we A lot of things we find from this time find from this time are made of bronze are made of bronze (it was (it was ““the Bronze the Bronze AgeAge””).).

Shang women…Shang women… Took directions from Took directions from

their husbands and their husbands and cared for their cared for their children.children.

Once in a while theyOnce in a while they’’d d be given a few rights be given a few rights though – and were though – and were probably better off probably better off than women in some than women in some other areas of the other areas of the world at that time.world at that time.

SericultureSericulture (silk farming) (silk farming) Women were Women were

completely completely responsible for silk responsible for silk production.production.

For centuries, Chinese For centuries, Chinese silk was the most silk was the most prized and expensive prized and expensive fabric in the world fabric in the world (only wealthy people (only wealthy people could afford it).could afford it).

An ancient Chinese An ancient Chinese saying: saying: ““Men plough Men plough and women weave.and women weave.””

One tomb from this era: Lady HaoOne tomb from this era: Lady Hao’’s s TombTomb

Lady Hao was Lady Hao was married to a married to a Shang king.Shang king.

This is only This is only Chinese tomb Chinese tomb we know of to we know of to have never have never been robbed.been robbed.

Altogether Fu Hao's tomb contained: 468 bronze objects including 130 weapons, 23 bells, 27 knives, 4 mirrors, and 4 tigers or tiger heads 755 jade objects 63 stone objects 5 ivory objects 564 bone objects including nearly 500 bone hairpins and over 20 bone arrowheads 11 pottery objects 6,900 pieces of cowry shell