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Preview 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 China’s First Dynasties

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Preview, continued Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts Video: The Impact of Hinduism as a World Religion China’s First Dynasties

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Reading Focus 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? Main Idea China’s river valley civilizations built the foundations of a long-shared Chinese culture. The achievements of the Shang and Zhou dynasties can be felt to this day. China’s First Dynasties

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The development of civilization in early China was aided by features like long rivers, fertile soils, temperate climates, and isolated valleys. China’s Geography

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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 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

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China’s Geography

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Summarize What geographic features influenced life in early China? Answer(s): Rivers deposited rich soil for farming; mountains, hills, and desert isolated the area.

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According to ancient Chinese records, the Shang dynasty formed around 1766 BC, although many archaeologists believe it actually began somewhat later than that. The Shang Dynasty

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Leisure Ruling elite had free time to pursue leisure activities, hunting for sport Wealthy enjoyed collecting expensive bronze, jade objects Afterlife Tombs held remains of sacrificed prisoners of war Believed in afterlife where ruler would need riches, servants Artifacts Much of what is known comes from studying royal tombs Contained valuable items made of bronze, jade Ancestor Worship Shang offered gifts to deceased ancestors to keep them happy in afterlife Steam from ritual meals nourished ancestors’ spirits Shang Elite

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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

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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 End of Dynasty 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 Bronze 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 Achievements and Decline

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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

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In that case, they said, it was the will of the gods that that dynasty be overthrown and a new one take power. 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. The Zhou Dynasty

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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 Zhou Achievements

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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

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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

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The conflicts of the late Zhou period led many Chinese thinkers to question the nature of society and people’s roles in it. New Philosophies

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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 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 Love and Respect 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 Confucianism

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Daoism

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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

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Contrast What is one difference between Confucianism and Daoism? Answer(s): Daoism—retreat from society and commune with nature; Confucianism—improve society

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VideoThe Impact of Hinduism as a World Religion Click above to play the video.