China’s First Dynasties Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus China’s Geography The Shang Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty Map: Shang and Zhou Dynasties New Philosophies Faces of History: Chinese Philosophers

China’s First Dynasties Preview, continued Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts Video: The Impact of Hinduism as a World Religion

China’s First Dynasties Main Idea China’s river valley civilizations built the foundations of a long-shared Chinese culture. The achievements of the Shang and Zhou dynasties can be felt to this day. Reading Focus How did China’s geography affect its early civilization? What were the achievements of the Shang dynasty? How did China change during the Zhou dynasty? What new philosophies were introduced in China?

China’s Geography Rivers, Soils, Climates Loess The development of civilization in early China was aided by features like long rivers, fertile soils, temperate climates, and isolated valleys. China’s first civilizations developed in river valleys Two major rivers supplied water for earliest civilizations Chang Jiang, also called Yangzi Huang He, or Yellow River Both flow east from Plateau of Tibet to Yellow Sea Rivers, Soils, Climates Annual floods deposited rich soil, loess, on flood plains Valley of Huang He particularly fertile due to loess Fine dusty soil Carried into China by desert winds Loess

Crops Most of eastern China covered with fertile soils; some regions better suited than others for growing certain crops Southern China—warm, receives plenty of rainfall, excellent region for growing rice Further north—climate cooler, drier; suitable for grains, wheat, millet Isolation Combination of rivers for irrigation, fertile soil for planting allowed Chinese to thrive, as did China’s relative isolation Mountains, hills, desert protected China from invasion Himalaya Mountains separate southern China from India, rest of southern Asia; vast Gobi Desert prevented reaching China from west

Beginnings of Civilization China’s Geography Archaeological discoveries suggest Chinese civilization began in Huang He valley People started growing crops there 9,000 years ago Beginnings of Civilization Legend says earliest Chinese ruled by Xia dynasty No written, archaeological evidence Xia dynasty existed Most historians date beginning of Chinese civilization to rise of Shang dynasty Xia

What geographic features influenced life in early China? Summarize What geographic features influenced life in early China? Answer(s): Rivers deposited rich soil for farming; mountains, hills, and desert isolated the area.

Government and Society The Shang Dynasty According to ancient Chinese records, the Shang dynasty formed around 1766 BC, although many archaeologists believe it actually began somewhat later than that. China ruled by strong monarchy At capital city, Anyang, kings surrounded by court Rituals performed to strengthen kingdom, keep safe Government and Society King’s governors ruled distant parts of kingdom King also had large army at disposal Prevented rebellions, fought outside opponents Order Shang China largely agricultural Most tended crops in fields Farmers called on to fight in army, work on building projects—tombs, palaces, walls Agricultural Society

Shang Elite Leisure Artifacts Afterlife Ancestor Worship Ruling elite had free time to pursue leisure activities, hunting for sport Wealthy enjoyed collecting expensive bronze, jade objects Artifacts Much of what is known comes from studying royal tombs Contained valuable items made of bronze, jade Afterlife Tombs held remains of sacrificed prisoners of war Believed in afterlife where ruler would need riches, servants Ancestor Worship Shang offered gifts to deceased ancestors to keep them happy in afterlife Steam from ritual meals nourished ancestors’ spirits

As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice Oracle Bones As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice Sought advice through use of oracle bones Inscribed bits of animal bone, turtle shell Living person asked question of ancestor Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone’s surface Specially trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer

Shang Achievements and Decline Writing Development of Chinese writing closely tied to use of oracle bones Earliest examples of Chinese writing, questions written on bones themselves Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects, ideas Bronze Shang religion led to great advances in working with bronze Highly decorative bronze vessels, objects created for religious rituals Also built huge structures like tombs; created calendar, first money systems End of Dynasty Shang ruled for more than 600 years, until about 1100 BC Ruling China’s growing population proved too much for Shang Armies from nearby tribe, Zhou, invaded, established new ruling dynasty

How did religion influence other aspects of Shang culture? Summarize How did religion influence other aspects of Shang culture? Answer(s): ritual meals for ancestors; oracle bones connected to early writing; bronze work for rituals; built stable tombs

The Zhou Dynasty Beginning around 1100 BC, the Zhou rules China for several centuries. The Zhou dynasty is divided into two periods. During the Western Zhou, kings ruled from Xian in a peaceful period. Later conflict arose, kings moved east to Luoyang, beginning the Eastern Zhou period. When Zhou conquered Shang, leaders worried Chinese people would not accept them Introduced idea they ruled by Mandate of Heaven Gods would support just ruler, not allow anyone corrupt to hold power Government Zhou said Shang overthrown because they lost gods’ favor Later rulers used Mandate of Heaven to explain dynastic cycle, rise and fall of dynasties in China If dynasty lost power, it obviously had become corrupt Dynastic Cycle In that case, they said, it was the will of the gods that that dynasty be overthrown and a new one take power.

Zhou Achievements Growth Decline of the Zhou Before Zhou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze Zhou learned to use iron, became backbone of economy Iron was strong, could be cast more cheaply, quickly than bronze Iron weapons strengthened Zhou army, as did new weapons like catapult and creation of China’s first cavalry Population grew under Zhou Farmers learned new techniques, increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication Introduced coins, use of chopsticks Growth Conflict arose during latter part of Zhou dynasty Clan leaders within China rose up against king As time passed, more and more local leaders turned against Zhou, further weakening rule Decline of the Zhou

Result of rebellions was Warring States Period Small States Fight Result of rebellions was Warring States Period 403 BC to 221 BC, number of small states fought each other for land, power Zhou still nominally in charge, but power almost nonexistent by mid-200s BC Qin, new dynasty, arose to bring end to Warring States Period, Zhou dynasty

How did China change under the Zhou? Analyze How did China change under the Zhou? Answer(s): iron technology, population grew, new farm techniques, more food, cities grew, roads and canals built, coins and chopsticks introduced

New Philosophies The conflicts of the late Zhou period led many Chinese thinkers to question the nature of society and people’s roles in it. Effort to make sense of chaos led to creation of many new Chinese philosophies, or ways of looking at the world Of many philosophies created during late Zhou period, two became influential in later Chinese history: Confucianism Daoism

Confucianism Confucius Love and Respect Analects Confucianism based on teachings of scholar named Kongfuzi, better known as Confucius, who thought people should treat one another humanely Should express love, respect for others, honor one’s ancestors Love and Respect Believed that love, respect had disappeared and was responsible for violence in society; restoring respect for tradition would make society stable Thoughts on how to improve society collected in book, Analects Analects Ruler should treat subjects fairly; subjects reward ruler with respect, loyalty People should respect members of family, devote selves to public service Confucian ideas spread elsewhere in Asia, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam

Daoism Definition Yin and Yang Unlike Confucianism, which focuses on improving society, Daoism encourages people to retreat from laws of society, yield to law of nature Heart of Daoism is concept of the dao, or the way Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation Through the dao, all things in nature connected Finding one’s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe Definition Daoism embraced Chinese concept of yin and yang, representing balancing aspect of nature—male, female; dark, light; hot, cold Neither can exist without other Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony Origins of Daoist teachings attributed to philosopher named Laozi Wrote book called Dao De Jing Laozi worshipped by some as a god Yin and Yang

Some Lasting Effects Daoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese history Still played major role in later dynasties Idea of balance key concept in China for centuries as result of Daoist teaching Daoist philosophy led many followers to work for preservation, protection of natural environment

What is one difference between Confucianism and Daoism? Contrast What is one difference between Confucianism and Daoism? Answer(s): Daoism—retreat from society and commune with nature; Confucianism—improve society

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