Yellow River Civilization Shang Dynasty Location Yellow River

Yellow River Civilization (Shang Dynasty) � Location: Yellow River (Huang He) Valley Area � Government: King � Farming � Fertile Soil called “loess” https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Vk. D 4 l. KWS 0 ro � Bronze-work � Writing � Oracle Bones

Early Religion � NATURE � Many gods that related to the natural world around them � ANCESTOR WORSHIP � Reciprocity � “Hungry � YIN Ghosts” and YANG � Balance � MALE between: and FEMALE � DARK and LIGHT

Human Sacrifices? � http: //www. independent. co. uk/life-style/history/human -sacrifices-discovered-at-torched-shang-dynasty-cityhuanbei-1975492. html

Shang Dynasty overthrown by the Zhou (1046 BC)

Mandate of Heaven � Originated by the Zhou Dynasty (1046 -256 BCE) � Justified the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty

Concept 1. Heaven grants the emperor the right to rule 2. There can only be one emperor at any given time 3. The emperor’s virtue determines his right to rule 4. No one dynasty has a permanent right to rule

Implications � Incentive for emperors to act responsibly � Allowed for incredible social mobility � Explanation/scapegoat for natural disasters such as famine, flood, drought

Zhou � Ruled for almost 800 years � Peace and stability

The end of the Zhou was a period called the warring states (403 BC-221 BC) � Warring Dynasty states period ended with the rise of the Qin

QIN Dynasty (221 -206 BCE Shi Huang Di (The First Emperor of China) �Strict Legalism (Began by Hanfeizi) �Laws should be very strict and punishments very harsh �Started GREAT WALL �Uniform: coins, language, weights