1. Ancient
China

2. Neolithic
China

3. Sinanthropus pekinesis
“Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BCE)
Sinanthropus pekinesis

4. Yellow River Civilization

5. Neolithic Pottery
3000 BCE to 2000 BCE

6. The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

7. Pan-Gu: Mythical Creator of the Universe

8. “Chung Kuo” (The “Middle Kingdom”)

9. Hsia Dynasty
BCE

10. Yu, the Great – Founder of the Hsia

11. “Huangdi” –Emperor The “Yellow Emperor.”
Legend has it that he ruled for over years.
Associated with the invention of wheeled vehicles, ships, armor, pottery, and silk-making.

12. Emperor Fuxi Mythical Hsia ruler.
Taught the Chinese how to read and write, according to legend.

13. Hsia Plaque, 1700 BCE

14. Shang Dynasty
BCE

15. Bronze Age Empires

16. Shang: BCE

17. Oracle Bones

18. Oracle Bones Calendar

19. The Evolution of Chinese Writing during the Shang
Pictographs
Semantic-Phonetics

20. Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE
Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE - jade
Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE

21. Shang Urn

22. Shang Bronzes

23. Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BCE

24. Zhou Dynasty
BCE

25. Western Zhou: BCE

26. Eastern Zhou: BCE

27. Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou)

28. Pendant of a Dancer - jade 3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)

29. Ritual Wine Vessel – 4c bronze, silver, gold, copper

30. Zhou Coins - bronze

31. “T’ien Ming” The Mandate of Heaven
The leader must lead by ability and virtue.
The dynasty's leadership must be justified by succeeding generations.
The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important.

32. The Dynastic Cycle Start here A new dynasty comes to power.
The emperor reforms the govt. & makes it more efficient.
Emperor is defeated !!
Lives of common people improved; taxes reduced; farming encouraged.
The Dynastic Cycle
Rebel bands find strong leader who unites them. Attack the emperor.
Problems begin (extensive wars, invasions, etc.)
Poor lose respect for govt. They join rebels & attack landlords.
Taxes increase; men forced to work for army. Farming neglected.
Droughts, floods, famines occur.
Govt. increases spending; corruption.

33. The Zhou (周)Dynasty (1027-256 BC)
When Zhou conquered Shang, leaders worried Chinese people would not accept them
Introduced idea they ruled by Mandate of Heaven (天命)
Gods would support a just ruler and 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.

34. Period of Warring States
Latter Zhou descend into a period of civil conflict
From this unrest come 3 competing philosophies that impact China and the world into the modern day
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Use the following link to take notes
Zhou era philosophies
Khan Academy