The Early River Valley Civilization of the Yellow River (Huang River) East Asia The Early River Valley Civilization of the Yellow River (Huang River)

Objective: Students will learn about the early history of the Chinese civilization, including history, achievements, and power.

The Yellow River (Huang River) 1,500 years after the city of Ur (Mesopotamia) was beginning and 1,000 years after the planned cities of the Indus valley, the Yellow River Valley Civilization flourished.

Natural Barriers Natural barriers isolated China from other civilizations. To the east is the Pacific ocean. To the west lay the Taklimakan desert and the icy 14,000 foot Plateau of Tibet. To the North lies the desolate Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Plateau. The two rivers in the area are the Yellow river and the Yangtze in central China. About 90% of the remaining land that is suitable for farming lies within the comparatively small plain between these rivers.

National Pride Due to this isolation, the Chinese had little contact with foreigners. This led to a strong sense of identity and superiority. They regarded China as the only civilized land, calling it Zhongguo, or “Middle Kingdom,” referring to it as the center of the world.

Dynasties Humans have inhabited China for about a million years. The First Dynasties- Before the Sumerians settled in southern Mesopotamia, early Chinese cultures were building farming settlements along the Yellow river.

Xia Peoples The first dynasty in China was the Xia. Its leader was a mathematician and engineer named Yu. Yu started flood control systems and irrigation projects to control the Yellow river.

Shang Dynasty 1750-1500 B.C. Invaders called the Shang swept into the Huang River Valley. Introduced irrigation and flood-control systems into the region. By controlling these systems, the Shang could more easily control the region’s people.

Shang Government Created a complex bureaucracy: government organized into different levels and tasks. A hereditary King ruled over all land in the kingdom War chariots and bronze weapons were used to defend against invaders. Military might and well-organized government allowed the Shang to gain territory.

Shang Economy and handicrafts Economy was based mainly on agriculture: millet and rice. Raised silkworms so that they could spin thread from the cocoons and wove silk cloth from the thread.

Artisans Artisans worked in bone, ivory, and jade. Pottery and ceramic art was very popular.

Astronomy and the calendar Two calendars: one based on the sun and one based on the moon. Moon Calendar: record of private and public events. Planting was determined by the calendar. A good harvest meant popularity for the king. Therefore the priest-astronomers were important.

Religion Combined animism (the belief that spirits inhabit everything)—with ancestor worship Dragon became symbol of Chinese rulers They also worshipped gods of the wind, sun, clouds, and moon. POLYTHEISTIC The Shang also believed in Shangdi, a great god who controlled human destiny and forces of nature.

Religion Oracle Bones: the shoulder bones of cattle or tortoise shells. The priests heated the bones and interpreted the cracks that would appear.

Language and Writing. Many dialects were spoken. The Chinese method of writing, each character stands for an idea, not a sound. People in all parts of China could learn the same system of writing. To be barely literate one had to know 1,000 characters. (Not just 26 letters)

Language and Writing Writing was limited to a small number of specialists: clerks, scribes, and teachers. It demanded much study and practice, therefore workers, had little time for such luxury.

Social Classes The civilization was sharply divided between nobles and peasants. These noble families owned the land. They would send tribute to the Shang ruler in exchange for local control.

Family The family was central to Chinese society. The most important virtue was respect for one’s parents. Women were treated as inferiors. When a girl was between 13 and 16 years old, her marriage was arranged.

The Fall of the Shang Dynasty 1200B.C. : Herders from the harsh Gobi desert and the Tian Shan foothills began moving in and settling along the borders. The Shang were almost continuously fighting them off. The extended military efforts exhausted the Shang rulers.

The Fall 1050 B.C The Zhou formed an alliance and overthrew the Shang, claiming the Shang were corrupt and unfit to rule.

Works Cited Holt. World History: The Human Journey. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Austin. 2003 www.google.com/images