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 notes

I. The Geography of ChinaA. Geographic Isolation

1. East = Yellow Sea and Pacific Ocean2. West = Taklimakan Desert3. Southwest = Himalaya Mts.4. North = Gobi Desert5. 2/3 of China’s 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 “China’s Sorrow”?Because of the death and destruction caused by flooding

II. The Shang Emerge in ChinaA. The 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. king’s authority to rule came from heaven2. a just and fair ruler was seen as having god’s approval3. unfair or unsuccessful king = No approval4. justification for overthrow5. Dynastic Cycle = Rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

III. Early Chinese CultureA. Family 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 sacrifice

2. 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 rest

of the

world

China as the “Middle Kingdom”of 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 rest

of the

world

China as the “Middle Kingdom”of 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 features 2. Environmental challenges

5. Role of Family4. Social classes 6. Religious beliefs

3. Settlements

7. Writing system 8. Technological advances9. Artistry

River Dynasties in ChinaShang Dynasty Culture

Huang 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 = Anyang

Warrior-noble class headed by a king

Peasant class

King seen as connectionbetween Heaven and EarthKings’ power came from gods=Mandate of Heaven

Central authority in Chinese SocietyMen controlled the family

Elderly had special privileges

Women treated as inferior

Worshipped 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 common

Many 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 casting

Embroidered silk clothing

Ornate bronze items

China = “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