Ancient China Chapter 14-section 1 p.432

China Satellite Map

China Political Map

China has two rivers Yellow River – River is yellow from “loess” – a fine dustlike material that can form a soft soil – River begins in the high Himalaya mountains of Western China and empties into the Yellow Sea – Loess from Gobi desert is picked up by the river before being deposited on river banks when the river overflows. Chang River – Longest river in China (13 times longer than Florida’s St. Johns river)

Yellow River waterfall (in the season)

Yellow river flooding More pictures

Classwork: Read “isolation” (2 paragraphs) on p. 433 and answer the following question: – Why is china isolated from other countries? Answer “Map Skills” questions

Shang Dynasty, B.C. Earliest dynasty for which there is a written record. Rule passed from person to person within the family. Writing system uses pictographs –pictures that represent things or ideas. There is no alphabet. Shang rulers organized groups of farmers to clear and prepare new land. Soldiers fought with bows, lances and bronze axes

Oracle Bone

Chinese Characters

Spoken language sometimes is different in different regions, but characters are the same. Shang artisans are known for what? (read “Bronze Metalworking” p. 435 Shang religion made what kind of sacrifices to gods? Answer Section “Key Terms” and “Key Ideas” questions, p. 435.

Chinese Phrases