Ancient Civilizations China Geography Natural Barriers China is

Ancient Civilizations China

Geography: Natural Barriers China is surrounded by deserts and mountains. These acted natural barriers, separating China from the rest of the world.

Two Major Rivers The Huang He (the Yellow River The Yangtze River China has two major river systems that provided fertile soil and safe drinking water. The early people called the rivers in China "The Great Sorrow". That's because each spring the rivers would overflow their banks. 1. The Yangtze River 2. The Huang He (the Yellow River)

Devastating floods Floods killed thousands of people. It is called the Yellow River because the water picks up yellowish loess or silt.

Major crop- rice Major crop was rice. Chinese used bronze and clay jars to store their rice.

Dynasties and the Mandate of Heaven ▪ Most historians agree that civilization occurred sometime around 2000 BCE around the Yellow River ▪ In China, the powerful families that controlled land became leaders of family-controlled governments called dynasties. Chinese history from ancient times until about 100 years ago is divided by different dynasties.

Dynastic Cycle in China

Mandate of Heaven ▪ The Zhou talked about the Mandate of Heaven as the law that allowed Chinese emperors to rule—it said that the ruler was blessed by Heaven to rule the people. If he lost the blessing of heaven he should be removed. Things that proved the ruling family had lost the Mandate of Heaven were natural disasters and rebellions. For example, if a draught or flood was particularly bad, people may begin to think the ruling family had lost the Mandate of Heaven.

The Oldest Dynasty ▪ The Xia Dynasty (2000 BCE-1600 BCE) was the first dynasty in Chinese history. ▪ Hereditary System of emperors ( from the word empire) ▪ The Xia people were farmers, with bronze weapons and clay pottery. ▪ Silk is one of the most important products China has ever created.

Yu the Great ▪ Yu the Great was a legendary ruler in ancient China famed for his introduction of flood control putting in place the dynastic rule in China by founding the Xia Dynasty.

Shang Dynasty ▪ The Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE-1046 BCE) conquered Xia land gained control of Chinese civilization. ▪ Lasted over 600 years and was led by 30 different emperors. ▪ The Shang were the oldest Chinese civilization to leave behind written records, called oracle bones—turtle shells, cattle shoulders or other bones on which were written important clues to Chinese history. ▪ Improved bronze and used it in weapons

Religion ▪ During the Shang Dynasty people worshipped many gods. Ancestor worship was very important since they believed their family members became god-like in the after life.

Society Structure

System of Writing ▪ English words are made up of a collection of letters that each has its own sound. The Chinese use logograms - where a symbol represents a meaning or a word. ▪ Strength: most people would know these symbols ▪ Weakness: sometimes meaning is vague

Feudalism ▪ a way of structuring society around relationships derived from the holding of land in exchange for service or labor.