Early China 1750 B.C. to A.D. Chapter 7.1
The Land of China Ancient Chinese Civilization developed along the Huang He River
Huang He River Huang He-means Yellow River 2,900 miles long Cuts through yellow soil called loess
Huang He-”China’s Sorrow” Huang He is sometimes called “China’s Sorrow” in honor of people killed by flood
Chang Jiang or Yangtze River Flows from west to east 3,915 miles long 3rd longest river in the world
Mountains Himalaya, Kunlun Shan, and Tian Shan mountains cover much of China Tian Shan Himalaya Mountains Kunlun Shan
Desert Gobi Desert - cold, rocky Taklamakan Desert
Gobi Desert- hot in summer-temperatures reach 122 degrees, cold in winter-temperatures reach minus 40 degrees
Taklamakan Desert-second largest shifting sand desert in the world
Tibetan Plateau Highest and largest plateau in the world
The First Chinese Dynasty According to Chinese myth, Yu the Great built channels to control floods Chased away the dragon caused floods Dragons helped dig channels Took 13 years to complete the work
Yu the Great Legend says Yu the Great founded China’s first dynasty named the Xia (Shyah) Archaeologist have not found any historical evidence of the Xia
Shang Dynasty Built the first cities in China Ruled most of the Huang He Valley Appointed warlords-military leaders Most people were farmers
Shang Religion Polytheistic Shang Ti-supreme god Gods lived in mountains, rivers, and seas Honored ancestors or long-dead family
Seeking Guidance from Ancestors Kings believed they received their power to rule from gods and their wisdom from ancestors Asked for help from oracle bones
Writing Pictographs-characters that represent objects Ideographs-link two or more pictographs to express an idea
Shang Arts Created objects made of bronze
Silk Silk-farmers raised silk worms to produce silk Weavers made the silk into clothing
Kaolin Kaolin-fine, white clay-made vases and dishes
Jade Jade- a green stone
The Zhou: China’s Longest Dynasty Wu Wang overthrew Shang government Declared a new dynasty called Zhou (JOH) Ruled 800 years
How did the Zhou Rule China? King led the government Ruled with bureaucracy-officials who carry out the task of the government Aristocrats governed territories
The Right to Rule Mandate of Heaven-belief that the Chinese king’s right to rule came from the gods King must rule the proper “Way” known as the Dao
Technology and Trade Zhou kings developed new ways to irrigate the land
War Between the States Aristocrats grew powerful Aristocrats began to fight one another Fought for 200 years Known as “Period of the Warring States”
“Period of Warring States” Aristocrats forced farmers to serve as soldiers Soldiers used swords, spears, and crossbows Developed saddle and stirrups