Slide 1

The Rise of Civilization & the Early Dynasties of China

LESSON AIM: How did civilization and the first Dynasties rise in China?

*Geographic Barriers: Brutal Desert to West, Him. Mts. to south, Dense jungle to S.E. Some contact w/ nomadic invaders-absorbed into society.*Varied Regions-Harsh Climates Esp. Mongolia & Xinjiang *Settlement along the River of Sorrows Yellow (Huang he) river-Yellow b/c of LOESS Caused floods & famine. Constantly building dikes, irrigation, etc.How did geography influence Chinese civilization? Him. Mts.Gobi DesertYellow Riv. ValleyThick RainforestS.E. AsiaHeartland: Center of Agr. & TradeLong distances & phys. barriers separate China from foreign civilizations-Made them believe they were the center of the earth and civilization. Called their land Zhongguo- The Middle Kingdom.

3How did the Shang Dynasty begin the process known as the DYNASTIC CYCLE? THE DYNASTIES OF CHINAShang: 1766 BC-1122 BCZhou: 1122 BC-256 BCQin: 221 BC-206 BCHan: 202 BC-AD 220Sui: AD 581-AD 618Tang: AD 618-AD 907Song: AD 960-AD 1279Ming: AD 1368-AD 1644Qing: AD 1644-AD 1911**Notice few gaps!!NEW DYNASTY *Brings peace,, gets Mandate of Heaven. *(Re) builds infrastructure. *Gives land to peasants. *Protects people. OLD DYNASTY *Over-taxes people. *Lets infrastructure decay. Corruption ignored. *Stops protecting people & treats them unfairly. Loses Mandate of Heaven Problems: Floods, earthquakes, etc. Peasants revolt, invaders attack & bandits raid countryside.GENERATIONS GO BY, NEW DYNASTY BECOMES OLD & neglects govt duties byNew Dynasty Claims Mandate of HeavenLike Divine Right(Canals, roads, Irrig, walls) How did Chinese culture begin to take shape under the Shang dynasty? *How was the first government formed?

Archaeologists uncover ancient city of AnyangRelatively small, but able to repel invasions from North-Common to all dynasties at some point. Local clan princes rule-Women high status early on.*How/Why did social classes develop?Royal Family & Noble ClassWarriors: Leather armor, Bronze weapons, learned to use chariots from invaders.Artisans & MerchantsPeasants: Majority-Different life. ALL worked. When not in fields, repaired dikes, irrig systems. Responsible to fight in wars w/ nobles. (Feudalism?)7How did the Zhou define China further,(Overthrew Shange from west & ruled until 256BC) establishing the Mandate of Heaven and an economically successful Feudal kingdom? (Definition?)

*Said it was Gods will that Zhou rule because Gods were so outraged by last Shange Kings cruelty. (Lost the?) Zhou rulers only rule directly for 250/800 yrs of dynasty. Power in hands of land owning supporters who ruled locally while the King, etc lived luxuriously. Peasant serfs work land, give loyalty and provide military service for protection & being provided for.How did the Zhou Dynasty create economic growth for their people?How/Why did the Zhou decline? *Iron working in 600s BC replaced stone, wood, bronze. Used for tools, plows, etc. MUCH stronger & durable. Esp. important with farming: increased food production, new crops (versatile soy bean) , better irrigation, more trade-use of copper coins. Results in large population increase. REMEMBER: MORE FOOD=MORE PEOPLE!!!*By 256 BC: TOO BIG-Emperor ignored by powerful local feudal lords. Constantly battled each other for land & power. Out of those battles, rose Shin Huangdi & the Qin (Chin) Dynasty.9