““Peking Man”Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BC)(750,000 – 500,000 BC)

““Peking Man”Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BC)(750,000 – 500,000 BC)

SinanthropusSinanthropuspekinesispekinesis

The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley CulturesRiver Valley Cultures

The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley CulturesRiver Valley Cultures

Yellow River Yellow River CivilizationCivilization

Yellow River Yellow River CivilizationCivilization

Neolithic Neolithic PotteryPottery

Neolithic Neolithic PotteryPottery

3000 BC to3000 BC to2000 BC2000 BC

““Chung Kuo”Chung Kuo”(The (The “Middle “Middle Kingdom”Kingdom”))

““Chung Kuo”Chung Kuo”(The (The “Middle “Middle Kingdom”Kingdom”))

TheDynastic

Cycle

TheDynastic

Cycle

A new dynasty

comes to power.

A new dynasty

comes to power.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Lives of common people improved;

taxes reduced;farming encouraged.

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Problems begin(extensive wars,invasions, etc.)

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Taxes increase;men forced towork for army.

Farming neglected.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Govt. increasesspending; corruption.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Droughts,floods,

famines occur.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Poor loserespect for govt.They join rebels

& attack landlords.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Rebel bands findstrong leader who

unites them.Attack the emperor.

Emperor isdefeated !!

Emperor isdefeated !!

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

The emperorreforms the govt.& makes it more

efficient.

Start here

Xia DynastyXia DynastyXia DynastyXia Dynasty•Historians Historians consider this consider this as the as the beginning of beginning of Chinese Chinese civilization.civilization.

•Little is Little is known about known about this this civilization.civilization.

Xia Plaque, 1700 BCXia Plaque, 1700 BCXia Plaque, 1700 BCXia Plaque, 1700 BC

Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires

Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires

Shang: Shang: 1523-1028 1523-1028 BCBC

Shang: Shang: 1523-1028 1523-1028 BCBC

Writing system developed Writing system developed that used pictographs that used pictographs which were symbols or which were symbols or

characters representing an characters representing an object.object.

Writing system developed Writing system developed that used pictographs that used pictographs which were symbols or which were symbols or

characters representing an characters representing an object.object.

PictograpPictographshs

Semantic-Semantic-PhoneticsPhonetics

• Clear social divisions : Wealth was based on land.

• Farming society ruled by aristocracy.

• They had a belief in super natural forces.

• To communicate with the gods rulers made use of oracle bones.

Oracle BonesOracle BonesOracle BonesOracle Bones

Oracle Bones Oracle Bones CalendarCalendar

Oracle Bones Oracle Bones CalendarCalendar

Silk making and bronze

working were

technological

contributions of this

dynasty

Axe Scepter – Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE1100 BCE - jade- jade

Axe Scepter – Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE1100 BCE - jade- jade

Ceremonial Dagger – Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE1028 BCE

Ceremonial Dagger – Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE1028 BCE

ShanShangg

UrnUrn

ShanShangg

UrnUrn

Shang Shang BronzesBronzesShang Shang

BronzesBronzes

Ritual Wine Vessel – Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BCbronze, 13c BC

Ritual Wine Vessel – Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BCbronze, 13c BC