Preview China s First Dynasties Main Idea / Reading Focus China s Geography The Shang Dynasty The Zhou Dynasty Map: Shang and Zhou Dynasties New Philosophies Faces of History: Chinese Philosophers
Preview, continued China s First Dynasties Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts Video: The Impact of Hinduism as a World Religion
Main Idea Reading Focus China s First Dynasties China s river valley civilizations built the foundations of a longshared Chinese culture. The achievements of the Shang and Zhou dynasties can be felt to this day. How did China s geography affect its early civilization? What were the achievements of the Shang dynasty? How did China change during the Zhou dynasty? What new philosophies were introduced in China?
China s Geography The development of civilization in early China was aided by features like long rivers, fertile soils, temperate climates, and isolated valleys. Rivers, Soils, Climates China s first civilizations developed in river valleys Two major rivers supplied water for earliest civilizations Chang Jiang, also called Yangzi Huang He, or Yellow River Loess Annual floods deposited rich soil, loess, on flood plains Valley of Huang He particularly fertile due to loess Fine dusty soil Carried into China by desert winds Both flow east from Plateau of Tibet to Yellow Sea
Crops Most of eastern China covered with fertile soils; some regions better suited than others for growing certain crops Southern China warm, receives plenty of rainfall, excellent region for growing rice Further north climate cooler, drier; suitable for grains, wheat, millet Isolation Combination of rivers for irrigation, fertile soil for planting allowed Chinese to thrive, as did China s relative isolation Mountains, hills, desert protected China from invasion Himalaya Mountains separate southern China from India, rest of southern Asia; vast Gobi Desert prevented reaching China from west
Beginnings of Civilization Archaeological discoveries suggest Chinese civilization began in Huang He valley People started growing crops there 9,000 years ago China s Geography Xia Legend says earliest Chinese ruled by Xia dynasty No written, archaeological evidence Xia dynasty existed Most historians date beginning of Chinese civilization to rise of Shang dynasty
Summarize What geographic features influenced life in early China? Answer(s): Rivers deposited rich soil for farming; mountains, hills, and desert isolated the area.
According to ancient Chinese records, the Shang dynasty formed around 1766 BC, although many archaeologists believe it actually began somewhat later than that. Government and Society China ruled by strong monarchy At capital city, Anyang, kings surrounded by court Rituals performed to strengthen kingdom, keep safe The Shang Dynasty Order King s governors ruled distant parts of kingdom King also had large army at disposal Prevented rebellions, fought outside opponents Agricultural Society Shang China largely agricultural Most tended crops in fields Farmers called on to fight in army, work on building projects tombs, palaces, walls
Leisure Ruling elite had free time to pursue leisure activities, hunting for sport Wealthy enjoyed collecting expensive bronze, jade objects Shang Elite Artifacts Much of what is known comes from studying royal tombs Contained valuable items made of bronze, jade Afterlife Tombs held remains of sacrificed prisoners of war Believed in afterlife where ruler would need riches, servants Ancestor Worship Shang offered gifts to deceased ancestors to keep them happy in afterlife Steam from ritual meals nourished ancestors spirits
Oracle Bones As part of worship, Shang asked ancestors for advice Sought advice through use of oracle bones Inscribed bits of animal bone, turtle shell Living person asked question of ancestor Hot piece of metal applied to oracle bone resulting in cracks on bone s surface Specially trained priests interpreted meaning of cracks to learn answer
Writing Development of Chinese writing closely tied to use of oracle bones Earliest examples of Chinese writing, questions written on bones themselves Early Shang texts used picture symbols to represent objects, ideas Bronze End of Dynasty Shang Achievements and Decline Shang religion led to great advances in working with bronze Highly decorative bronze vessels, objects created for religious rituals Also built huge structures like tombs; created calendar, first money systems Shang ruled for more than 600 years, until about 1100 BC Ruling China s growing population proved too much for Shang Armies from nearby tribe, Zhou, invaded, established new ruling dynasty
Summarize How did religion influence other aspects of Shang culture? Answer(s): ritual meals for ancestors; oracle bones connected to early writing; bronze work for rituals; built stable tombs
Beginning around 1100 BC, the Zhou rules China for several centuries. The Zhou dynasty is divided into two periods. During the Western Zhou, kings ruled from Xian in a peaceful period. Later conflict arose, kings moved east to Luoyang, beginning the Eastern Zhou period. Government When Zhou conquered Shang, leaders worried Chinese people would not accept them Introduced idea they ruled by Mandate of Heaven Gods would support just ruler, not allow anyone corrupt to hold power The Zhou Dynasty Dynastic Cycle Zhou said Shang overthrown because they lost gods favor Later rulers used Mandate of Heaven to explain dynastic cycle, rise and fall of dynasties in China If dynasty lost power, it obviously had become corrupt In that case, they said, it was the will of the gods that that dynasty be overthrown and a new one take power.
Zhou Achievements Before Zhou, Chinese metalwork done almost exclusively in bronze Zhou learned to use iron, became backbone of economy Iron was strong, could be cast more cheaply, quickly than bronze Iron weapons strengthened Zhou army, as did new weapons like catapult and creation of China s first cavalry Growth Population grew under Zhou Farmers learned new techniques, increased size of harvest, created food surpluses; cities also grew Roads, canals allowed better transportation, communication Introduced coins, use of chopsticks Decline of the Zhou Conflict arose during latter part of Zhou dynasty Clan leaders within China rose up against king As time passed, more and more local leaders turned against Zhou, further weakening rule
Small States Fight Result of rebellions was Warring States Period 403 BC to 221 BC, number of small states fought each other for land, power Zhou still nominally in charge, but power almost nonexistent by mid-200s BC Qin, new dynasty, arose to bring end to Warring States Period, Zhou dynasty
Analyze How did China change under the Zhou? Answer(s): iron technology, population grew, new farm techniques, more food, cities grew, roads and canals built, coins and chopsticks introduced
New Philosophies The conflicts of the late Zhou period led many Chinese thinkers to question the nature of society and people s roles in it. Effort to make sense of chaos led to creation of many new Chinese philosophies, or ways of looking at the world Of many philosophies created during late Zhou period, two became influential in later Chinese history: Confucianism Daoism
Confucius Confucianism based on teachings of scholar named Kongfuzi, better known as Confucius, who thought people should treat one another humanely Should express love, respect for others, honor one s ancestors Love and Respect Analects Confucianism Believed that love, respect had disappeared and was responsible for violence in society; restoring respect for tradition would make society stable Thoughts on how to improve society collected in book, Analects Ruler should treat subjects fairly; subjects reward ruler with respect, loyalty People should respect members of family, devote selves to public service Confucian ideas spread elsewhere in Asia, including Korea, Japan, Vietnam
Definition Daoism Yin and Yang Unlike Confucianism, which focuses on improving society, Daoism encourages people to retreat from laws of society, yield to law of nature Heart of Daoism is concept of the dao, or the way Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation Through the dao, all things in nature connected Finding one s place in nature allows person to achieve harmony with universe Daoism embraced Chinese concept of yin and yang, representing balancing aspect of nature male, female; dark, light; hot, cold Neither can exist without other Important for two to remain balanced for perfect harmony Origins of Daoist teachings attributed to philosopher named Laozi Wrote book called Dao De Jing Laozi worshipped by some as a god
Some Lasting Effects Daoism eventually proved less influential than Confucianism in Chinese history Still played major role in later dynasties Idea of balance key concept in China for centuries as result of Daoist teaching Daoist philosophy led many followers to work for preservation, protection of natural environment
Contrast What is one difference between Confucianism and Daoism? Answer(s): Daoism retreat from society and commune with nature; Confucianism improve society
Video The Impact of Hinduism as a World Religion Click above to play the video.