WHI: SOL 3a-e
China
Geographic Features
• Bay of Bengal• South China Sea• East China Sea• Pacific Ocean• Huang He River• Yangzi River• Xi River• Gobi Desert
• Himalaya Mountains• Yellow Sea• Anyang• China• Mongolia• India• Russia
Beginnings
• China began along the Huang He River valley• Huang He got its name from loess or fine,
windblown yellow soil (Yellow River)• Also known as “River of Sorrows” due to the
severe flooding• Isolation due to geographic features• Most cities and people are located along the
Eastern shore
Xia Dynasty• Led by Yu the Great• Yu led the people in working to build canals in
order to control the flooding of the Yellow River• Passed power to his son Qi, which began the
system of dynastic rule or the Hereditary System• Began a period of family or clan control
Shang Dynasty• 1766 b.c. -1122 b.c. corner of northern China• Anyang-capital city• Political: Kings were the head of all clans,
claiming a common ancestor• Kings only controlled small areas• Social:Hierarchy– Royals– Noble Warriors– Artisans and Merchants– Peasants
Shang Dynasty• Religious: oracle bones• A question is carved in a bones or shells, then
exposed to heat until it cracked, the cracks were then interpreted as an answer from the gods
Zhou Dynasty
• 1122 b.c.-corrupt king of Shang was overthrown, established the Zhou dynasty
• Political: Zhou claimed “Mandate of Heaven” or a divine right to rule
• This led into the belief of the dynastic cycle• Used to explain the rise and fall of dynasties
Zhou Dynasty
• Social: Feudalism• Economic: growth of economy, ironworking,
farming became more productive (surplus)• Use of money, increased trade• Religious: polytheistic, ancestor prayer and
offerings