1. Ancient China

2. China Natural Barriers: East – Yellow Sea & Pacific Ocean
West – Taklimakan Desert & Plateau of Tibet
Southwest – Himalayan Mountains
North – Gobi Desert & Mongolian Plateau
Major Rivers:
Huang He (Yellow)
‘Cradle of Chinese Civilization’
Location of 1st Civilization
‘China’s Sorrow’
Frequent devastating floods caused by large amounts of loess deposited on the river floor
loess: fertile deposit of windblown silt
Yangtze (Chang Jiang)
Longest river in China
North China Plain:
Plain between Huang He & Yangtze
Most populated & fertile region of China
‘Middle Kingdom’:
Derived from belief they were the ‘center of civilization’
Originated with the Zhou Dynasty

3. Ancient Chinese Dynastic Periods
Xia Dynasty (2070 – 1600 BCE)
1st Chinese Dynasty
Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1046 BCE)
1st Chinese dynasty to leave written records
Zhou Dynasty (1045 – 256 BCE)
Established feudalism
Warring States Period (475 – 221 BCE)
Seven Kingdoms
Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BCE)
Qin Shi Huang – 1st Emperor of China
Key characteristics of Chinese civilization:
Advanced Cities ● Specialized Workers
Complex Institutions ● Record Keeping
Advanced Technology

4. Xia Dynasty 2070 – 1600 BCE Founded by Yu the Great
Given the thrown by Shun
Yu passed power to his son Qi
Establishing dynastic rule of China
Flood-control and irrigation increased agricultural production
Food surplus allowed cities to grow

5. Shang Dynasty 1600 – 1046 BCE Founded by Cheng Tang
Overthrew King Jie of the Xia Dynasty
Battle of Mingtiao
Capital was moved six times
Final/Largest: Yin Xu (Anyang)
North of Huang He
Shang Civilization:
Basis:
Agriculture
Key Aspects:
Hunting, Animal Husbandry, Bronze Production, War & Human Sacrifice
Decline:
Defeated by the Zhou at the Battle of Muye
Shang Zhou committed suicide after the defeat 5

6. Shang Political & Social Structure
King was supreme ruler
Head Military Commander
High Priest of Society
Aristocracy:
Land owning warrior-nobles ruled
Aristocracy: rule by elite few
Shang kings divided the territory among generals
Peasants tilled the land for the aristocrats
Family:
Central to Chinese Society
Chief loyalty was to one’s family
Older males controlled property and decisions (Patriarchal)
Women were treated as inferiors
Mothers would eventually have to obey their own sons
Girls had marriages arranged between 13 & 16

7. Zhou Dynasty 1045 – 256 BCE Longest dynasty in Chinese history King Wu
1st king of Zhou Dynasty
claimed the Shang rulers lost support of the gods
Established Feudal Rule:
Feudalism:
Nobles granted use of lands that belong to the king in exchange for owing loyalty and military service to the king
Control of various regions was given to family members and trusted nobles
Territory stretched further West, North and South to the Yangtze
As nobles grew in power they became less dependent on the king

8. Mandate of Heaven Notion that the ruler governed by divine authority
Used to justify authority and rule (Duke of Zhou)
Heaven (Tian) chose who would rule
Dao (‘The Way’):
Kings were responsible to be rule by the dao and keep the gods happy or lose the ‘Mandate of Heaven’
Resulting in disasters, bad harvests or rebellion
Mandate of Heaven was used to explain the dynastic cycle
Rise, decline and replacement of different dynasties

9. Dynastic Cycle Strong dynasty establishes peace & prosperity
Dynasty declines and become corrupt
Disaster occurs (floods, famines, revolts)
- Loses Mandate
Dynasty is overthrown by rebellion
New dynasty gains power and claims to have the Mandate of Heaven

10. Zhou Society Trade: Transportation: Iron: Irrigation/Water Projects:
Agricultural surplus led to an increase in trade
Silk: Most important trade item
Transportation:
Roads and canals were constructed
Linking growing cities
Iron:
Development of the blast furnace facilitated production
Weapons and agricultural tools
Stronger than bronze weapons/tools
Irrigation/Water Projects:
Control of river flow better watered the crops
Less reliance on rain
Coined Money:
Introduced metal coins to Chinese Civilization (possibly 1st in the World)
Improved trade

11. Zhou Decline ‘Warring States Period’: Warfare:
Feudal lords began grow in power and fight neighbors
Annexing and consolidating smaller states around them
Seven major states emerged
Rulers changed from ‘Dukes’ to ‘Kings’ of their territory
Qin, Chu, Qi, Yan, Han, Wei & Zhao
Political Developments:
Complex bureaucracies, centralized governments & clear legal systems
Warfare:
Infantry (peasant foot soldiers) and cavalry became more prevalent
Replacing chariots
New weapons:
Iron battle-axes and swords
Crossbow
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War:
Oldest and most influential military guide