Ancient River CivilizationsShang China
Critical IntroWhat were the geographic similarities of India and China? Which was more connected to the other river valleys? Why?
Shang China notesThe Geography of ChinaGeographic Isolation
1. East = Yellow Sea and Pacific Ocean2. West = Taklimakan Desert3. Southwest = Himalaya Mts.4. North = Gobi Desert5. 2/3 of Chinas land = mts. + deserts
B. 2 Main River Systems1. Huang He (Yellow) R. in North China2. Yangtze R. in Central China3. Most of farmland and pop. is in eastern plain between these rivers.*Why is the Huang He called Chinas Sorrow?Because of the death and destruction caused by flooding
II. The Shang Emerge in ChinaThe Shang Dynasty = 1st documented Chinese dynasty
1. 1532- 1027 B.C.2. main capital = Anyang
B. Shang Cities1. most structures and homes made of wood2. cities protected by earthen walls
C. Shang Social Classes1. sharply divided 2. ruled by warrior class headed by a king3. nobles owned land; sent tribute to Shang ruler4. peasants worked the land with wood and stone tools
D. Mandate of Heaven1. kings authority to rule came from heaven2. a just and fair ruler was seen as having gods approval3. unfair or unsuccessful king = No approval4. justification for overthrow5. Dynastic Cycle = Rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties
III. Early Chinese CultureFamily was central to Chinese Society
1. Elder male controlled property + made decisions2. women expected to obey male family members
B. Religious Beliefs Polytheistic & animistic1. Believed in ancestor worship (veneration)a. Spirits could bring good or bad luckb. offering made to keep spirits happyc. Offerings included human sacrifice2. Supreme God = Shang Di
C. First Chinese Writing! = Oracle Bones1. Kings consulted gods through Oracle bones.a. Priests scratch question on bone or turtle shellb. Apply heat to cause cracksc. Interpret cracks for answers
2. Chinese writing symbols stand for idea not sounda. Advantage = everyone could learn writing; unitingb. Disadvantage = more than 10,000 symbols to learn
D. Excellence in Bronze working 1. Shang artisans perfected bronze casting skills2. bronze weapons, jewelry, religious items
** Why did the Ancient Chinese refer to themselves as the Middle Kingdom? They saw their country as the center of the civilized world.Ancient ChinaMiddle Kingdom
The restof theworldChina as the Middle Kingdomof the world
Geographic Isolation!
Hueng He or Yellow River
Himalaya Mountains
Highly detailed bronze itemsduring Shang Dynasty
Upper Class housing
Mandate of Heaven and theDynastic Cycle
Ancient ChinaMiddle Kingdom
The restof theworldChina as the Middle Kingdomof the world
Shang Oracle BoneTurtle Shell
C. First Chinese Writing = Oracle Bones1. Kings consulted gods through Oracle bones.a. Priests scratch question on bone or turtle shellb. Apply heat to cause cracksc. Interpret cracks for answers
Shang Royal TombFuo Hao, who was the wife of a Shang emperor, was a powerful military and political leader
Her coffin was surrounded by thousands of bronze and jade artifacts, as well as human sacrifices.
1. Geographic features2. Environmental challenges5. Role of Family4. Social classes6. Religious beliefs3. Settlements7. Writing system8. Technological advances9. ArtistryRiver Dynasties in ChinaShang Dynasty CultureHuang He and Yangtze riverSystems, Plateau of Tibet,Gobi Desert, Mongolian Plateau, Himalaya Mountains Flooding of the Huang He
Geographic isolation mountainsand deserts isolate China from outside world.Earthen-walled cities;
Elaborate palaces, tombs,timber-framed homes within city
Upper class lived in cityLower class lived outside wallsCapital = AnyangWarrior-noble class headed by a king
Peasant class
King seen as connectionbetween Heaven and EarthKings power came from gods=Mandate of HeavenCentral authority in Chinese SocietyMen controlled the family
Elderly had special privileges
Women treated as inferiorWorshipped spirits of family ancestorsSupreme god and lesser godsConsulted gods through Oracle bones = Earliest Chinese writingPriests carved questions on bones or shells, heat & read cracksHuman sacrifice was commonMany written characters, eachrepresenting an idea/item
Advantage = all in China couldlearn this writing unifying
Disadvantage = thousands ofcharacters to learn
Manufactured weapons,religious items, and jewelry
Perfected bronze castingEmbroidered silk clothing
Ornate bronze itemsChina = Middle Kingdom Ancient Chinese referred to themselves as the Middle Kingdom because they saw themselves as being at the center of the world.
Shang China
