River Dynasties in China

Geography Two Rivers: Huang He (Yellow River) in the north, Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) in central China. Talimakan Desert in west China Gobi Desert in north China Himalaya Mountains in the southwest

Environmental Challenges The Huang He’s floods could be disastrous. Floods could destroy whole villages, “China’s Sorrow.” Early Chinese settlers had to supply their own goods. Limited trading because of isolated location.

China’s Heartland Only 10 percent of China’s land is suitable for farming, land between the two rivers. Its farmland is known as the North China Plain or “China’s heartland.” The yellowish silt deposited by the Huang He River is fertile soil called loess.

The First Dynasties Around 2000 BC, China’s first dynasty, the Xia Dynasty emerged. Its first leader, Yu, developed flood control and irrigation projects. Around 1700 BC, the Shang Dynasty came to power. They were the first family to leave written records. Shang Dynasty built elaborate tombs and palaces.

Early Cities Anyang was one of the capitals of the Shang Dynasty. Higher classes lived inside the Anyang city walls. Built houses of wood, clay, and straw. Peasants and craftsmen lived in huts outside the city walls. The city walls encircled a 1.2 square mile area

Family Central to Chinese society Women were expected to obey their fathers, husbands, and later their own sons Girls were married through arranged marriages between 13 and 16 years old. Men owned property and made decisions

Social Classes Warrior-nobles headed by a king, governed over China during the Shang dynasty. Noble families governed the scattered villages and paid tribute to the Shang ruler in exchange for local control. Peasants worked for the nobles.

Religious Beliefs Believed that the spirits of family ancestors had the power to bring good fortune or disaster to their living family members. These were viewed as helpful or troublesome spirits, not gods. Families paid respect to the father’s ancestors and made sacrifices in their honor. Worshipped a supreme god, Shang Di.

Oracle Bones Priests scratched questions for the gods onto tortoise shells and animal bones. Placed a hot poker to it which caused it to crack. Priests interpreted the cracks as answers to the questions.

Chinese Writing No links between Chinese spoken language and written language. One could read Chinese without being able to speak it. Over 50,000 characters in the Chinese language. Each character represented a different word.

Chinese Writing

Zhou Dynasty Around 1027 BC, the Zhou overthrew the Shang and established their own dynasty. Zhou justified overthrowing the Shang by proclaiming the Mandate of Heaven.

Mandate of Heaven Became central to the Chinese view of government. A just ruler had divine approval from the gods A wicked or foolish ruler could lose the Mandate of Heaven. Floods and riots might be a sign that the gods were displeased with the king’s rule.

Dynastic Cycle The pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

Feudalism A political system in which nobles, or lords, are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the king. In return, the nobles owe loyalty and military service to the king and protection to the people who live on their estates.

Improvements in Technology and Trade Roads and Canals Coined money Blast furnaces that produced cast iron The Zhou used iron to create daggers, axes, sickles, knives, and spades. Iron made farming easier and more productive

End of the Zhou Dynasty Ruled from 1027 to 256 BC. In 771 BC, nomads from the north and west attacked the Zhou capital and murdered the Zhou ruler. A few members of the royal family escaped and set up a new capital at Luoyang. These royal family members were powerless as the different lords waged war on one another.