2. Neolithic period Agricultural society Importance of the Yellow River –Cradle of Chinese civilization –Loess- yellow clay dust Neolithic period followed by dynasties

3. What is a dynasty? A line of rulers from the same family

4. Xia Dynasty 2200- 1766 BC Little is known about this period Legendary King Yu –2200-2100 BC –Master of Flood Control Organized system of irrigation canals to relieve the flood waters –Started dynastic rule –Strong moral character

5. Shang Dynasty 1766- 1122 BC –Legendary Battle of Mingtiao The Shang’s bravery caused the Xia to retreat Developed earliest Chinese writing Worshipped many gods –Ancestor worship- believed their ancestors became like gods when they died King Tang of Shang

6. Zhou Dynasty 1122- 256 BC Kings claimed a “mandate of heaven” to rule A system of feudalism developed –Divided into 6 states –A period of fighting, known as The Warring States, led to the fall of the dynasty –The strongest and strictest state the Qin eventually took power

7. Early Chinese Writing Pictographs- characters used to represent objects Written on oracle bones –Oracle bones were used to predict the future –Over 4,000 characters have been discovered but only half have been deciphered Ancient Chinese writing on a turtle shell

8. Sun

9. Moon

10. Mountain

11. Water

12. Wood / Tree

13. Person

14. Eye

15. Bird

16. Turtle

17. Goat

18. Horse

19. Chinese Dragon