1. Ancient China (Shang and Zhou Dynasties) Theme: The importance of rivers and the advantage of technology, the development of cities

2. Importance of Rivers

3. rivers agriculture populations cities specialization hierarchy

4. YELLOW RIVER YANGZI RIVER

5. Population Growth Settlements began to crop up along the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers –Created a need for recognized authorities who could maintain order, resolve disputes, and organize public works projects –Village-level organizations could only act locally Small dynasties followed that extended their control over progressively larger regions

6. Dynasties “A sequence of powerful leaders in the same family” –Shang Dynasty 1766 to 1122 B.C. –Zhou Dynasty 1122 to 256 B.C. –Tang Dynasty 618 to 907 A.D. –Song Dynasty 960 to 1279 A.D. Shang Dynasty

7. Shang: 1523-1028 BCE

8. Characteristics of a Civilization Intensive agricultural techniques Specialization of labor Cities A social hierarchy Organized religion and education Development of complex forms of economic exchange Development of new technologies Advanced development of the arts. (This can include writing.)

9. Bronze Age Empires

10. Agriculture

11. Yellow River Takes its name from the vast quantities of soil it picks up along its route –Yellow River periodically unleashes terrible floods, earning it the nickname “China’s Sorrow”

12. Agriculture Loess soil is extremely fertile and easy to work –Even before the introduction of metal tools, cultivators with wooden instruments could generate large harvests

13. Crops Initially, millet was the main crop (especially in the north) Sometime thereafter, the Chinese began cultivating rice Extensive rice production would require developing a complex irrigation system (made possible by the centralizing authority of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties)

14. Cities Ruins of Banpo Village near modern Xian

15. Cities: Shang Vast network of walled towns whose local rulers recognized authority of the Shang kings Shang rulers moved their capital six times Royal tomb at Anyang

16. Social Hierarchy King Wen of Zhou China

17. Social Hierarchy: Shang and early Zhou Royal family and allied noble families –Resided in large, palatial compounds and lived on the agricultural surplus and taxes delivered by their subjects –Power tied to bronze Privileged class of hereditary aristocrats –Rose from the military allies of the rulers –Possessed extensive land holdings and performed military and administrative tasks –Some access to education for those who lived in cities –Detailed rules of etiquette during Zhou era

18. Social Hierarchy: Ancient Shang and early Zhou Small class of free artisans and craftsmen –Lived in cities –Those who worked almost extensively for the privileged classes lived reasonably comfortably Peasants –Semi-servile class that lived in the countryside and did not own land –Provided agricultural, military, and labor services for lords in exchange for plots to cultivate, security, and a portion of the harvest Slaves –Most were captured enemy warriors –Performed hard labor that required a large work force such as clearing fields or building city walls –During the Shang Dynasty many were victims of human sacrifice during funerals and other religious and ritual observances

19. Specialization Silk making Bronze storage jar from Zhou Dynasty

20. Specialization Bronzesmiths Jewelers Jade workers Embroiderers Manufacturers of silk textiles –Silkworms are fed mulberry leaves, they molt and spin cocoons, then workers boil the cocoons to produce the raw silk. Silkworm cocoon

21. Religion and Education Bronze wine vessel used for rituals to honor ancestors during Shang Dynasty

22. Religion Ancient China did not have an organized religion or official priesthood Did not recognize a personal supreme deity who intervened in human affairs or took a special interest in human behavior Did speak of an impersonal heavenly power– tian (“heaven”)– that was responsible for bestowing and removing the mandate of heaven on rulers

23. Religion Instead, the patriarchal head of the family presided over rites and ceremonies venerating ancestors’ spirits Burning paper gifts for the departed is one traditional form of ancestor worship

24. Confucius

25. China before Confucius The “Yellow Emperor” Xia and Shang Dynasties –2070 B.C. - 1046 B.C. Zhou Dynasty –1046 B.C. - 256 B.C. “Spring and Autumn” period –770 B.C. - 476 B.C.

27. Confucius Born in 551 B.C. died in 479 B.C.

28. Confucianism Concerned primarily with restoring social stability and order –What is the basis of a stable, unified, and enduring social order? a system of social and ethical philosophy –“only when character is cultivated are our families regulated; only when families are regulated are states well governed.”

29. Confucianism li –rituals, norms, institutions, or mores –the outer, conforming aspect of Confucianism ren –humaneness, love, kindness, benevolence, or virtue –the inner, reforming aspect of Confucianism

30. Five relationships father-child ruler-subject husband-wife elder brother-younger brother friend-friend

31. Confucianism Persecuted in Qin Dynasty –221 B.C. - 206 B.C. promoted by later rulers

32. Economic Exchange Cowrie shells used as money

33. Economic Exchange Somewhat limited by the mountain ranges and deserts that stood between China and India and southwest Asia –Shipbuilding emerged during Zhou era and facilitated trade Evidence of –Cowrie shells from Burma and the Maldives –Military technology from Mesopotamia –Jade from central Asia –Tin from Malay

34. New Technologies Silk making

35. New Technologies: Silk During the Zhou era, the Chinese discovered how to make silk from the cocoons of silkworms. –Silk would become China’s most valuable export, eventually linking them with most of the world through trade.

36. New Technologies: Bookbinding Chinese artisans learned how to bind together long, thin strips of wood or bamboo to make books

37. New Technologies: Shang and Military Success Shang pictograph of composite bow Shang were also able to exert military might over the Xia through bows

38. New Technologies: Zhou and Military Failure Zhou kings were not able to monopolize bronze production as the Shang had Iron technology was spreading rapidly throughout China –Iron ores were cheaper and more abundant than copper and tin so Zhou could not monopolize iron Leaders were able to equip their forces with iron which enabled them to resist the central government When nomads invaded the Zhou capital at Hao in 771 B.C., the subordinates refused to support the king

39. New Technologies The Great Wall of China originated as a defensive barrier against tribal intrusions Construction started in the seventh century B. C. and spanned over 20 states and dynasties –Two sections were built during the Zhou era –As China unified, the various sections were connected

40. Art and Writing Bronze from Sang Dynasty Writing on bamboo strips

41. Writing The earliest form of Chinese writing was the pictograph Pictographs were combined into ideographes to represent complex or abstract notions –The combination of “mother” and “child” renders “good” Unlike most other languages, written Chinese did not include an alphabetic or phonetic component

42. Book of Songs Collection of 331 poems from the Zhou era Represent a variety of subjects –Political themes –Ritualistic hymns –Life –Love and friendship –Family –Work and play