Aim: Comparing China’s River Dynasties

2 River Systems 1) Huang He 2) Chang Jiang Environmental Challenges 1) Huang He floods destroyed villages 2) Because of China’s isolation, settlers supplied with own goods 3) Natural boundaries didn’t completely protect settlers from outsiders 2

Developments Under Shang Family Central to Chinese society Elder men controlled family’s property and made decisions Women treated as inferiors Social Classes Society divided between nobles and peasants Ruling class governed by a king Religious Beliefs Family closely linked to religion Believed that spirits of ancestors had power to bring good fortune or bad 3

Development of Writing (Shang) No link between China’s spoken and written language Advantage to writing system People in all parts of China could learn the same system Disadvantage of writing system Enormous number of written characters needed to memorize 1500 Characters 4

Advancements Under Zhou Mandate of Heaven Justified Zhou rulers right to rule Ruler had divine (godly) approval Feudalism Zhou ruled land beyond Huang He To govern large area, Zhou gave control of regions to members of family Trade/Technology 1) Roads & canals built to stimulate trade 2) Blast furnaces produced cast iron 3) Coined money introduced for trade 5