Ancient China The Geography The Shang Dynasty The Chou Dynasty Government and Daily Life.
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Transcript of Ancient China The Geography The Shang Dynasty The Chou Dynasty Government and Daily Life.
Ancient China
The Geography
The Shang Dynasty
The Chou Dynasty
Government and Daily Life
Ancient China: The Geography
China’s size reflects the diversity of its terrain
Terrain is the type of land described by their physical features
South is comprised has of dense rainforests, north is covered with deserts and west is covered with mountain ranges
In north Gobi Desert is comprised mostly of mountains not deserts
The Yellow River
Ancient China: The Geography
Himalayans Mountains highest in the world
Melting snow from mountains creates the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers
Yellow river gets coloration from yellow dust from mountains
Rainfall decided on crop that would grow (wheat, millet and rice)
Ancient China: The Geography
Civilization in ancient China similar to Mesopotamia, Egypt and Indus Valleys
Created irrigation canals from Yellow River to water fields similar to other civilizations
Used geographic surveys to predict annual flooding of Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
The Shang Dynasty 1700-1027 B.C.
Succeeded the last Xia ruler by rebellion Economy was based on agriculture, silk trade,
jade jewelry, and bronze Shang kings ruled the capital and surrounding
region Appointed relatives to rule areas surrounding the
capital Relied on an organized military and cities
surrounded by protective walls to maintain order in empire
The Shang Dynasty: Cultural Achievements
Writing system used ideograms
Ideograms were illustrations that stood for a sound
Had over 50,000 characters
Bronze pottery and weaponry high achievements in craftsmanship
The Shang Dynasty: Religion
Believed Pang-Gu, a great dragon created the earth
Goddess Nuwa created the people but there were class distinctions
Majority of gods are connected to nature to answer the mysterious of the world
Also had demons, ghosts and monsters
The Shang Dynasty: Religion
Ancestor worship dead relatives were contacted to intervene and influence the gods through prayer
Sought to honor deeds, memories and sacrifice of dead
Chinese sought to read future through oracle-bones
The Shang Dynasty: Daily Life
Family was most important social unit
One members bad behavior disgraced entire family
Male’s had voice in family affairs
Children respected parents and long to raise own families
Females obeyed husbands
The Shang Dynasty: Society
Royalty and nobles lived in lavish tiled homes and palaces
Homes were scented by gardens or spices
Horses and clothes of silk signified social rank
Elaborate tombs like Egyptians but had guards and animals buried alive with them
The Shang Dynasty: Society
Warriors were of a special class (specialized soldiers)
Outfitted with best bronze weaponry and war chariots
Farmers worked land assigned to them by nobles
During harvest period lived in bamboo homes near fields and served nobles requests
Extremely poor even expected to pay homage to nobles
The Shang Dynasty: Society
Merchants and Craftsmen did not contribute food to nobles nor part of nobility
Placed outside of class system
Not valued as men and during times of war not considered worth protecting
The Chou Dynasty: 1115-227 B.C.
Defeated the Shang in 1115 B.C. To legitimize their rule they introduced the Mandate
of Heaven, the idea of rule by divine right Mandate of Heaven, stated that Heaven was
concerned with welfare of humans and that it appointed specific people to rule fair and wisely
If they ruled unfairly a family member or families could revolt and overthrow them
Winner of conflict was the one who had favor from Heaven and destined to rule
The Chou Dynasty: 1115-227 B.C.
Chou was longest ruling dynasty
Expanded their rule by building national road system and canal system to unify country
Introduced government control of agriculture, which provided government with surplus food for times of famine or war