““Peking Man”Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BCE)(750,000 – 500,000 BCE)
““Peking Man”Peking Man” (750,000 – 500,000 BCE)(750,000 – 500,000 BCE)
SinanthropusSinanthropuspekinesispekinesis
Yellow River (aka Huang Yellow River (aka Huang He) CivilizationHe) Civilization
Yellow River (aka Huang Yellow River (aka Huang He) CivilizationHe) Civilization
Neolithic Neolithic PotteryPottery
Neolithic Neolithic PotteryPottery
3000 BCE 3000 BCE toto
2000 BCE2000 BCE
The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley River Valley
CulturesCultures
The 4 Old-World The 4 Old-World River Valley River Valley
CulturesCultures
Pan-Gu: Pan-Gu: Mythical Mythical Creator of the Creator of the
UniverseUniverse
Pan-Gu: Pan-Gu: Mythical Mythical Creator of the Creator of the
UniverseUniverse
Plaque, Plaque, 1700 1700 BCEBCE
Plaque, Plaque, 1700 1700 BCEBCE
Shang: Shang: c1523-1028 c1523-1028 BCEBCE
Shang: Shang: c1523-1028 c1523-1028 BCEBCE
• Originated in the Huang He (Yellow) River Valley• Moved westward toward Gansu and south past
Yangtze River• Dominated by warrior aristocracy (self-indulgent)• King and court ruled central area
– Constantly on move to promote loyalty
• Aristocrats=generals, ambassadors, supervisors • Distant regions governed by local elites who
swore allegiance to king
• Term barbarian emerges (people who were not Shang, nomads)
• POWs served as slaves• Capital – Anyang
– Religious and political center– Massive walls of pounded earth– Palaces, royal tombs, shrines to gods and ancestors
• Common People– Agri villages (Pounded earth, wooden posts, dried
mud)– Early feng shui placement of village/city entrances
Writing
Pictograms and phonetic symbols combined to form 100s of signs
Mastered by small # of elites
Similar today (unlike Meso and Egypt’s written language that evolved into simpler alphabetic scripts
• Animal bones, turtle shells heated cracks priestly interpretation of symbols written language
Oracle BonesOracle BonesOracle BonesOracle Bones
The Evolution of The Evolution of ChineseChinese
Writing during the Writing during the ShangShang
The Evolution of The Evolution of ChineseChinese
Writing during the Writing during the ShangShang
PictograpPictographshs
Semantic-Semantic-PhoneticsPhonetics
Oracle Bones Oracle Bones CalendarCalendar
Oracle Bones Oracle Bones CalendarCalendar
Kingship and Religion• King: intermediary b/w gods and people• Shang royalty and aristocracy worshipped
spirits of male ancestors• Believed ancestors were interested in their
fortunes and had direct link to gods• Divination
– Sacrifices in order to win divine favor– Human and animal sacrifices for king’s
burial• Nobles, women, servants, soldiers, pow’s
Technologies• Bronze = authority and nobility
– Not plentiful in China– Bronze weaponry and Bronze vessels
(used in rituals)– Artisan class worked the bronze
• Cast and molded items (weapons, chariot fittings, musical instruments, vessels)
• Trade developed across China– Imports (jade, ivory, mother of pearl, carved
figures
Shang Shang BronzesBronzesShang Shang
BronzesBronzes
Ritual Wine Vessel Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, – bronze, 13c BCE13c BCE
Ritual Wine Vessel Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, – bronze, 13c BCE13c BCE
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
Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires
Bronze Age Bronze Age EmpiresEmpires
Western Zhou:Western Zhou: 1027-771 BCE1027-771 BCE
Western Zhou:Western Zhou: 1027-771 BCE1027-771 BCE
Eastern Zhou:Eastern Zhou: 771-771-256 BCE256 BCE
Eastern Zhou:Eastern Zhou: 771-771-256 BCE256 BCE
How did the Zhou come to be?
• Last Shang emperor defeated in 11c BCE by Wu, the ruler of the Zhou– Dependent state in Wei river valley
• Preserved Shang culture and developed new elements
Mandate of Heaven• Used in order to justify new rule• Chief deity = ‘Heaven’• According to theory, the ruler is chosen by
‘Heaven’ and would retain his backing as long as he was a just and wise guardian of his people– Proof = prosperity and stability of kingdom
• Right could be withdrawn in ruler ‘misbehaved’– Proof = corruption, violence, insurrection,
arrogance (displeasure and validated a replacement)
Zhou Dominance• Maintained Shang rituals
– Decrease in human sacrifices and divination
• Priestly class lost power ( separation of church & state development of philosophical and mystical systems)
• Early Zhou = Western Period– b/c of location of capitals– All major buildings faced south (harmony)
• Decentralized gov’t (like Shang) – Members and allies of royal family governed 100s of
states
Eastern Zhou• Relocated capital to Loyang in 771
BCE
• Much political fragmentation
• Fierce competition and warfare
• Warring States Period (771-481BCE)– Began using soldiers on horseback
• 600 BCE ironworking appeared 1st to forge steel
• Many bureaucrats (many law codes, direct
taxation of peasants, lg scale public works) Legalism ..Daoism..Confucianism
Ritual Food Vessel, Ritual Food Vessel, bronze bronze
11c BCE (Western Zhou)11c BCE (Western Zhou)
Ritual Food Vessel, Ritual Food Vessel, bronze bronze
11c BCE (Western Zhou)11c BCE (Western Zhou)
Pendant of a Dancer - Pendant of a Dancer - jade jade
3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)
Pendant of a Dancer - Pendant of a Dancer - jade jade
3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)
Ritual Wine Vessel – 4cRitual Wine Vessel – 4cbronze, silver, gold, bronze, silver, gold,
coppercopper
Ritual Wine Vessel – 4cRitual Wine Vessel – 4cbronze, silver, gold, bronze, silver, gold,
coppercopper
Zhou Coins - Zhou Coins - bronzebronze
Zhou Coins - Zhou Coins - bronzebronze
““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”““T’ien Ming”T’ien Ming”The Mandate of The Mandate of
HeavenHeavenThe Mandate of The Mandate of
HeavenHeaven
1.1.The leader must lead by ability The leader must lead by ability and and virtue. virtue.
2.2.The dynasty's leadership must The dynasty's leadership must be be justified by succeeding justified by succeeding generations.generations.
3.3.The mandate could be revoked The mandate could be revoked by by negligence and abuse; the will negligence and abuse; the will of of the people was important. the people was important.
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
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