1. Chapter 5 Section 2: The Huang Ho Valley

2. Ancient Civilizations

3. The Huang Ho Valley
About 2000 BC, this civilization started in China.
Much of what we know, comes from legends.
Settled here because of fertile soil
Lived in clay houses

4. Cities of the Shang Dynasty
A dynasty is a ruling family.
The first records come from the Shang dynasty. (1766 BC)
The rich lived in the cities and the poor in the country.
Farmers produced silk, which was used to make clothes for the rich.

5. Shang Religion
They worshipped spirits and ancestors.
They offered food, wine, and prayers to their ancestors in hope for good fortune.
Family was very important and there were rules on how to act.

6. Shang Kings
The Shang believed kings received power from their ancestors.
Kings would ask questions through oracle bones. (Pg 90)
Nobles were below kings, spent most of their time hunting to prepare for war.

7. Nobles rode horse-drawn bronze chariots.
They used sharp arrows and wore helmets.
Poor farmers marched behind them as soldiers.

8. Decline of the Shang
There was a strong divide between the rich and the poor.
This weakened the civilization.
In 1122 BC, the Zhou invaded and defeated the Shang.
The Shang left behind great works of bronze art.
Art experts consider their artwork the best in the world.