Ancient China

China Natural Barriers: East – Yellow Sea & Pacific Ocean West – Taklimakan Desert & Plateau of Tibet Southwest – Himalayan Mountains North – Gobi Desert & Mongolian Plateau Major Rivers: Huang He (Yellow) ‘Cradle of Chinese Civilization’ Location of 1st Civilization ‘China’s Sorrow’ Frequent devastating floods caused by large amounts of loess deposited on the river floor loess: fertile deposit of windblown silt Yangtze (Chang Jiang) Longest river in China North China Plain: Plain between Huang He & Yangtze Most populated & fertile region of China ‘Middle Kingdom’: Derived from belief they were the ‘center of civilization’ Originated with the Zhou Dynasty

Ancient Chinese Dynastic Periods Xia Dynasty (2070 – 1600 BCE) 1st Chinese Dynasty Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1046 BCE) 1st Chinese dynasty to leave written records Zhou Dynasty (1045 – 256 BCE) Established feudalism Warring States Period (475 – 221 BCE) Seven Kingdoms Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BCE) Qin Shi Huang – 1st Emperor of China Key characteristics of Chinese civilization: Advanced Cities ● Specialized Workers Complex Institutions ● Record Keeping Advanced Technology

Xia Dynasty 2070 – 1600 BCE Founded by Yu the Great Given the thrown by Shun Yu passed power to his son Qi Establishing dynastic rule of China Flood-control and irrigation increased agricultural production Food surplus allowed cities to grow

Shang Dynasty 1600 – 1046 BCE Founded by Cheng Tang Overthrew King Jie of the Xia Dynasty Battle of Mingtiao Capital was moved six times Final/Largest: Yin Xu (Anyang) North of Huang He Shang Civilization: Basis: Agriculture Key Aspects: Hunting, Animal Husbandry, Bronze Production, War & Human Sacrifice Decline: Defeated by the Zhou at the Battle of Muye Shang Zhou committed suicide after the defeat 5

Shang Political & Social Structure King was supreme ruler Head Military Commander High Priest of Society Aristocracy: Land owning warrior-nobles ruled Aristocracy: rule by elite few Shang kings divided the territory among generals Peasants tilled the land for the aristocrats Family: Central to Chinese Society Chief loyalty was to one’s family Older males controlled property and decisions (Patriarchal) Women were treated as inferiors Mothers would eventually have to obey their own sons Girls had marriages arranged between 13 & 16

Zhou Dynasty 1045 – 256 BCE Longest dynasty in Chinese history King Wu 1st king of Zhou Dynasty claimed the Shang rulers lost support of the gods Established Feudal Rule: Feudalism: Nobles granted use of lands that belong to the king in exchange for owing loyalty and military service to the king Control of various regions was given to family members and trusted nobles Territory stretched further West, North and South to the Yangtze As nobles grew in power they became less dependent on the king

Mandate of Heaven Notion that the ruler governed by divine authority Used to justify authority and rule (Duke of Zhou) Heaven (Tian) chose who would rule Dao (‘The Way’): Kings were responsible to be rule by the dao and keep the gods happy or lose the ‘Mandate of Heaven’ Resulting in disasters, bad harvests or rebellion Mandate of Heaven was used to explain the dynastic cycle Rise, decline and replacement of different dynasties

Dynastic Cycle Strong dynasty establishes peace & prosperity Dynasty declines and become corrupt Disaster occurs (floods, famines, revolts) - Loses Mandate Dynasty is overthrown by rebellion New dynasty gains power and claims to have the Mandate of Heaven

Zhou Society Trade: Transportation: Iron: Irrigation/Water Projects: Agricultural surplus led to an increase in trade Silk: Most important trade item Transportation: Roads and canals were constructed Linking growing cities Iron: Development of the blast furnace facilitated production Weapons and agricultural tools Stronger than bronze weapons/tools Irrigation/Water Projects: Control of river flow better watered the crops Less reliance on rain Coined Money: Introduced metal coins to Chinese Civilization (possibly 1st in the World) Improved trade

Zhou Decline ‘Warring States Period’: Warfare: Feudal lords began grow in power and fight neighbors Annexing and consolidating smaller states around them Seven major states emerged Rulers changed from ‘Dukes’ to ‘Kings’ of their territory Qin, Chu, Qi, Yan, Han, Wei & Zhao Political Developments: Complex bureaucracies, centralized governments & clear legal systems Warfare: Infantry (peasant foot soldiers) and cavalry became more prevalent Replacing chariots New weapons: Iron battle-axes and swords Crossbow Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: Oldest and most influential military guide