1. China

2. China

3. China The Geography of China Barriers Isolate China
• Ocean, mountains, deserts isolate China from other
areas

4. China The Geography of China River Systems
• Huang He (“Yellow River”) in north, Yangtze in south
• Huang He leaves loess—fertile silt—when it floods

5. China The Geography of China Environmental Challenges
• Huang He floods can devour whole villages
• Geographic isolation means lack of trade; must be
self-sufficient
China’s Heartland
• North China Plain, area between two rivers, center
of civilization

6. China Civilization Emerges in Shang Times The First Dynasties
• Around 2000 B.C. cities arise; Yu, first ruler of Xia
Dynasty
• Yu’s flood control systems tames Huang He
(“Yellow River”)
• Shang Dynasty, 1700 to 1027 B.C., first to leave
written records

7. China Civilization Emerges in Shang Times Early Cities
• Built cities of wood, such as Anyang—one of its capital
cities
• Upper class lives inside city; poorer people live outside
• Shang cities have massive walls for military defense

8. China The Development of Chinese Culture Chinese Civilization
• Sees China as center of world; views others as uncivilized
• The group is more important than the individual
Family
• Family is central social institution; respect for parents a virtue
• Elder males control family property
• Women expected to obey all men, even sons

9. China The Development of Chinese Culture Social Classes
• King and warrior-nobles lead society and own the land
Religious Beliefs
• Spirits of dead ancestors can affect family fortunes
• Priests scratch questions on animal bones and tortoise shells
• Oracle bones used to consult gods; supreme god, Shang Di

10. China The Development of Chinese Culture Development of Writing
• Writing system uses symbols to represent syllables;
not ideas
• People of different languages can use same system
• Huge number of characters make system difficult to
learn

11. Zhou Dynasty takes control of China
In 1027 B.C.,
Zhou Dynasty takes control of China
Mandate of Heaven
• Mandate of Heaven—the belief that a just ruler had divine approval
• Developed as justification for change in power to Zhou
• Dynastic cycle—pattern of the rise and decline of dynasties
Control Through Feudalism
• Feudalism—system where kings give land to nobles in exchange for services
• Over time, nobles grow in power and begin to fight each other

12. Zhou Dynasty takes control of China
In 1027 B.C.,
Zhou Dynasty takes control of China
Improvements in Technology and Trade
• Zhou Dynasty builds roads, canals to improve transportation
• Uses coins to make trade easier
• Produces cast iron tools and weapons; food production increases

13. Zhou Dynasty takes control of China
In 1027 B.C.,
Zhou Dynasty takes control of China
A Period of Warring States
• Peaceful, stable Zhou empire rules from around 1027 to 256 B.C.
• In 771 B.C., nomads sack the Zhou capital, murder monarch
• Luoyang becomes new capital; but internal wars destroy traditions

14. Qin Dynasty takes control of China
In 221 B.CE.
Qin Dynasty takes control of China
A Period of Warring States
• Qin empire rules from around 221 to 206 B.C.
• Qin Shi Huang Di
• Dynasty gives China the name we know today

15. The Rise of Qin
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16. The First Emperor 19th–century illustration of Qin Shi Huang
Image retrieved from
19th–century illustration of Qin Shi Huang

17. Legalism
“Punishment should not be other than severe and definite, thus making the people fear them; and laws should not be other than uniform and steadfast, thus making the people comprehend them the enlightened [ruler] uses his men's strength but does not listen to their words, rewards them for their meritorious services but always eliminates the useless.”
– Han Fei ( BCE)
Source: Han Fei ( BCE), “Five Vermin: A Pathological Analysis of Politics.”

18. Qin Dynasty
Left image retrieved from
Right image retrieved from
Left: The Great Wall of China between Inner Mongolia and Shanxi province in 2006
Right: A 209 BCE bronze plaque with official order from the Qin dynasty

19. Fall of Qin
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Image retrieved from
Terracotta Army in the Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor, built BCE