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Ancient China: Thriving Civilization with Unique Challenges

Discover the enduring civilization of ancient China with its two major rivers, challenges like flooding and invaders, the development of dynasties from Xia to Zhou, societal structures, culture, language complexities, and the concept of the Mandate of Heaven shaping governance. Journey through the rise, decline, and replacement within the dynastic cycle that defined China's rich history.

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Ancient China: Thriving Civilization with Unique Challenges

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  1. Chapter 2-Section4 River dynasties in China

  2. Still in existence today • Mesopotamia-gone! • Ancient Egypt-history! • Indus valley-just a memory! • Chinese civilization still thrives today

  3. Natural barriers • Rivers • Oceans • Mountains • All serve to isolate China

  4. Two major rivers • Huang He (Yellow river) • Chang Jiang(Yangtze) • Yellow river is most polluted in the world today • LOESS-yellow colored silt deposited by yellow river

  5. Challenges of this location • Yellow river flooding can be disastrous-wiping out whole villages at a time • People had to supply all they needed-no trade • Invaders attacked again and again • Only 10% of land good for farming

  6. Civilization begins • Fossil remains found dating to 1.7 million years ago • Near Beijing-Homo-erectus skeleton found • Called”Peking Man” • Area settled 500,000 years ago

  7. First Dynasty • XIA (say shy-ah) Dynasty • Leader- Yu • Engineer • Mathematician • Flood controller

  8. Second Dynasty • Shang dynasty 1700B.C.-1027B.C. • First written records • Elaborate palaces • Magnificent tombs

  9. Are we in Egypt? • Wife of a king,her tomb contained: • 16 other people • 6 dogs • 460 bronze items • 750 jade items • 7000 shells

  10. Early city • Anyang-capital of Shang dynasty • Built of wood • Earthen walls • Upper-class-inside • Lower-class-outside • Constant wars-led to need for protection

  11. Culture develops • Not Chinese?- then you must be a barbarian! • Group>individual • Respect your elders! • Family main focus • Elder men control land/decisions • Women inferior (finally!) • Arranged marriages • Obey your father

  12. Classes of people • Sharp divide between upper/lower • Ancestors not gods, but helpful spirits • Helped you consult w/SHANG DI • Oracle bones

  13. Language • Understood by all • You could read it but not know how to write it • Many characters for every sound • If you knew 1500 symbols, you were barely literate! • Smart? Then you know at least 10,000 characters! • Writing usually reserved for the nobles • Peasants,not so much

  14. “ Mandate of heaven” • Shang dynasty ends, replaced by Zhou dynasty • New dynasties from now on will take over by saying,” our royal authority comes from heaven.” • This will become how all Chinese people will see government

  15. “ Dynastic Cycle” • Explains: • Rise • Decline • Replacement • This will apply to all dynasties

  16. Zhou Dynasty • 1027B.C.-256B.C. • Empire now very large • Zhou has to give control to the nobles • Rise of feudalism

  17. Feudalism • King • Gives land to noble/lord • Peasants(who else?) work the land • Nobles then owe loyalty,military service to the king • Nobles/lords become stronger • Become less dependent on king • Begin to fight for more power/land

  18. Zhou technology • Roads/canals • Coins-make trade much easier • Furnaces hot enough to make iron • Iron makes weapons/farming tools better

  19. Zhou dynasty in decline • Lords fighting all the time for more power/land • Values collapse • They begin to lose power • Cycle ends

  20. Things to remember • This civilization still exists! • Complex language • Iron • Coins • Mandate of heaven

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