Early Chinese Geography Much smaller than modern China

Early Chinese

Geography Much smaller than modern China n Small kingdoms in Yellow and Yangtze River Valleys n Secluded by mountains and deserts n Developed relatively free of outside resources n Fertile soil from rivers, however little rain n

Geography cont. n n n Rivers flooded depositing “loess” Yellow soil “China’s Sorrow” Yellow River sometimes flooded too much (monsoons) Built dikes

Dynasties n n n Xia (Shyah) was the first 2200 -1500 b. c. e. Family included all relatives Strong sense of identity (no contact w/others)

Shang Dynasty n n 1766 -1027 b. c. e. 1 st to have historical evidence City walls Tombs

Shang Dynasty cont. n n High level of building skills Tombs built like palaces n n n Remains of people, horses, dogs Wooden chariots Excellent pottery Shells Ivory Gold

Shang cont. n Oracles: someone believed to predict the future n Used bones and heated them to figure out answers Government n Anyang (capital) n King was a descendent of a god n Received money through defeated people of wars n

Shang cont. When king died, younger bro took over n If none, oldest son became king n Educated class of priests educated them n Used lunar calendar (studied stars) n Year divided into 10 day periods n 3 periods equaled month n 6 periods equaled a cycle n 6 cycles equaled a year n

Shang Economy n Mostly farmers Planted millet, type of cereal, wheat, rice n Raised cattle, horses, pigs, goats, fowl, crops n Sericulture n Cultivation of silkworms to make silk n Kept secret 3, 000 yrs (too valuable) n Trade silk n Used Cowrie shells for money n

Writing Pictures to represent words along w/ characters (2, 500 dif. Symbols) n Used brush and ink n Calligraphy (beautiful writing) became art n Wrote downward on bamboo, silk, paper n Put books together called Bamboo Books n

THE END!