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

4. The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

5. Yellow River Civilization

6. Neolithic Pottery 3000 BC to 2000 BC

7. “Chung Kuo” (The “Middle Kingdom”)

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

10. Xia Dynasty Historians consider this as the beginning of Chinese civilization.Historians consider this as the beginning of Chinese civilization. Little is known about this civilization.Little is known about this civilization.

11. Xia Plaque, 1700 BC

13. Bronze Age Empires

14. Shang: 1523-1028 BC

15. Writing system developed that used pictographs which were symbols or characters representing an object. PictographsSemantic-Phonetics

16. Clear social divisions : Wealth was based on land. Farming society ruled by aristocracy. They had a belief in super natural forces. To communicate with the gods rulers made use of oracle bones.

17. Oracle Bones

18. Oracle Bones Calendar

19. Silk making and bronze working were technological contributions of this dynasty

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

21. Shang Urn

22. Shang Bronzes

23. Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BC