Warm Up1. Define artisan:2. Mesopotamia is located between what rivers?3. Rights of women in Mesopotamia:4. Explain why the kings of early empire claim to

rule from the gods:5. First written language in history: Importance

and Impact:6. Explain Mummification and its religious

purpose:

• I. Early China– A. Geography and Resources– Natural resources included timber,

stone, metals, millet and rice– China is divided in two zones the

plateau and steppe which are suitable for settled agriculture

– Isolation due to mountains, hills, and desert = protects from invasion

– Xia Dynasty is considered to be the beginning of Chinese civilization

– B. Shang Period– Pigs and chickens were domesticated and

silk textiles were the staple skill in China– In 2000 BC bronze metallurgy arose in

China (weapons, tools, skilled craft)– Chinese people developed a society

based on land ownership and focused on religion

– Purpose of oracle bones: Used oracle bones to ask questions of the gods

–Wrote questions on bones, inserted a hot piece of metal into the bone until it cracked, and then read the cracks to get an answer

–Written mostly on turtle shells

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Orakelknochen.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/CMOC_Treasures_of_Ancient_China_exhibit_-_oracle_bone_inscription.jpg

– Shang rulers maintained rule by claiming divinity

– Supreme god of the Shang was Di and rulers claimed they were the link between heaven and earth and could rule with total control

– Shang society was an aristocracy based on land ownership and the elite fought with bronze weapons and rode chariots

– C. The Zhou Period, 1045-221 BC– Zhou territory was a territory of the

Shang empire– Founders of Zhou: Zhou and Wen led a

resistance movement against the Shang and attacked the Shang capital

– Zhou introduced the concept of the “Mandate of Heaven”

– Concept of Mandate of Heaven: gods gave “permission” to rule China

– Idea that gods would support a just ruler, but would not allow anyone corrupt to hold power

– The Shang were overthrown because they had lost the favor of the gods

Zhou

– C. Zhou Period– Constructed new capital city and was a

grid pattern following the idea of “feng shui” to maintain harmony:

– Historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings—often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures—in an auspicious manner. Depending on the particular style of feng shui being used, an auspicious site could be determined by reference to local features such as bodies of water, stars, or a compass.

– Technologies of the Zhou: – Zhou learned how to fight on horseback,

replaced bronze tools and weapons with iron and steel

– Society now has a new class called the bureaucrats (educated elite government) who recorded data, administered government, and offered advice to rulers

Maximizing of Feng Shui?

Confucius

Confucius

Confucius

– D. Confucianism, Daoism, and Chinese Society– Confucianism and Daoism have roots in Zhou

period– Confucianism: – Concerned about human behavior– People should treat one another with love and

respect– Confucius believed that the disappearance of this

love and respect was responsible for the violence in society

– Focuses on improving society– Restoring a respect for tradition would make

society stable once again

– Honor one’s ancestors– A ruler must set a good example and lead by

virtue– A ruler should be advised by qualified, well-

informed people– Select advisors based on merit rather than birth

Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu

– Daoism: – “The Way”– Also concerned with proper behavior– Encourages people to retreat from the laws of society

and yield to the laws of nature– Promotes harmony with nature– By finding one’s place in nature, it is possible for a

person to achieve harmony with the universe

– Women are subordinate to men

• II. Nubia, 3100 BC-350 CE– A. Early Cultures and Egyptian Dominance– Located on the Nile between the Med Sea

and tropical Africa– Natural resources: gold, semiprecious

stones, and copper– Continually traded with Egypt and for a

short time was controlled by Egypt– Kingdom of Kush developed around 1750

BC – During the New Kingdom Kush was

invaded by Egyptians and exploited Nubian laborers

• B. Kingdom of Meroe, 800 BC-350 CE– Nubian people had their capital in

Napata in 660 CE– Nubian people moved their capital to

Meroe better located for trade and agriculture

– Kingdom of Meroe dominated trade in the southern part of Modern day Egypt

– Culture in Egypt begins to decline as the Kingdom of Meroe rises however the culture of Egypt still effects Meroe

– Decline of Meroe: because of a shift in trade routes and the rise of kingdoms in Africa

• III. First Civilizations of the Americas– A. Mesoamerican Olmec– Olmec – first, appeared around 1200 BC– Farmed along the Gulf of Mexico, disappeared around

300 AD– Olmec played an imp role in developing writing and

astronomy in the Americas

– B. Early South American Civilization: Chavin– Great military strength and religion helped Chavin

to become dominant in South America– First in Americas to start maintaining roads, create

bridge systems, and large irrigation and drainage projects• Set the stage for the Incan empire

– The labor system set up by the Chavin was also used by the Incan empire

– Fall was due to increased warfare with other tribes– Fall of Chavin was around 200 BC