Ancient China

Ancient ChinaXia, Shang, Zhou Dynasties2200-256 BCEMs. Jerome Ancient China

Yellow RiverAncient China was an agricultural society Yellow River is boisterous and unpredictable.Courses almost 2,920 miles.Gets name from the vast quantities of light-colored loess soil (a sediment/silt) that it picks up along the route. This next part will shock youThe river enabled the development of a complex civilization and the fertile soil assisted in its growth.

Chinese Dynasties Chinese legends speak of three ancient dynastiesthe Xia, the Shang, and the Zhou.

Shang and Zhou Dynasty Tradition assigns the Shang dynasty to the period 1766 to 1122 b.c.e. Xia Dynasty is legendary Chinas first recorded historyThe basic features of early Chinese society come into much clearer focus than the preceding Xia Dynasty.

Bronze Metallurgy and Horse Drawn ChariotsBronze metallurgy transformed Chinese society during Shang timesrulers monopolized bronze productionIt is what enabled Shang rulers to displace Xia rulers.Chariots, carts, horse drawn wagon, taken from southwest Asia Charioteers were the first great aggressors in human history- historian John Keepgan Shang Chariots

Bronze Knives

Bronze Weapons/Tools

Political OrganizationShang society was composed of numerous peasant communities, dominated by strong noble class with monarchy. Not highly centralized Local rulers had authority over townsLocal rulers recognized rule of the kingKing was an intermediary between heaven and earthNobility was the warrior class

Religious Organization: Shangdi, the supreme deity during Shang China- controlled heaven and earth

Border Sacrifice The King sacrificed a bull once a year as an offering to Shangdi There was a single high god of of heavenThere were regional gods and ancestral veneration* See handout on Border Sacrifice writing

Ancestral VenerationWhat is of value to Ancient Chinese culture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWb7Rvvtblc Ancestral Venerationin the absence of organized religion or official priesthood in ancient China, the patriarchal head of the family presided at rites and ceremonies honoring ancestors spirits.Therefore, the family patriarch possessed tremendous authority.No organized religion in ancient China (change from other river valley civilizations)

Oracle BonesIn Mesopotamia and India, merchants pioneered writingIn China, the earliest known writing served the interests of rulers rather than traders. One medium for writing was oracle bones.

Oracle BonesUsed by fortune-tellers in ancient ChinaSpecially prepared bones (turtle shells, bones of sheep) to inscribe questions. Subjected to heatWhen heated, the bone crackedFortune tellers then studied the patterns and determined answers

Will the harvest be productive?

Chinese writingThe earliest form of Chinese writing was the pictographThe characters used in contemporary Chinese writign are direct descendants of those used in Shang times.

Out with the Shang in with the Zhou (1122-256 BCE) The Zhou overthrew the Shang and setup their own dynasty in 1027 BCE.Claimed to have the Mandate of Heaven or divine right of ruleMandate of Heaven later used to describe Dynastic Cycle

Zhou Dynasty

Zhou Political OrganizationMuch larger than ShangZhou rulers relied on decentralized administration Entrusted power to subordinates and expected tribute, allegiance and military support. Ultimately became the undoing of the Zhousubordinates became too independent. Failed to uphold their end of the bargain. What does this sort of political organization remind you of?Essentially a feudal type stateIron MetallurgyIron Metallurgy spread during the Zhou DynastyMade bronze weapons obsoleteIron ores are cheaper and abundantso Zhou kings couldnt control who had access. Empowered subordinates could resist their central government assisted in breaking down the central Zhou government

Social StructureWhat was striking about the previous chart? Merchantsconsidered unskilledPeasantsbiggest population b/c an agricultural societySemiservileowned land but provided agricultural and military service to lords in exchange for plots of landPeasants used stone tools-bronze too expensive until iron became more accessible

WomenPeasant womendomestic dutiesMostly indoor activitiesWine making, weaving, cultivation of silkworms, Menfields, hunting, fishingExtremely male dominated society

Warring States Period 403-221 bceDispersion of iron and an empire too big to manage led to the decline of the ZhouUshered in a period known as the Warring States Period. China was divided between warring states and no central figure