Ch 2 Early China, Nubia, Meroe, and The First

Civilizations in the AmericasBy Koa Knitter

& Seamus Hurley

Geography

Early Resources

metals

stone

timber

North ChinaMillet

Loess soil

-Dry and cool-Yellow River Valley

South China

Rice

Plentiful Rainfall-Warm-Yangzi River Valley

Early Societies

-Land of Neolithic communities-Pigs, Chicken, Millet domesticated-Silk textiles-Bronze Metallurgy

Oracle Bones and Shang Religion and Writing

Kings Religion- Worship of male ancestors, Kings were intermediaries between the gods and human world.

Developed during Shang PeriodToday’s Writing Directly related

Shang Technology

Bronze weapons, ceremonial vessels

Horse drawn chariot

Video

Zhou Period 1027-221 B.C.E.

Defeated Shang in the 11th century B.C.E

“Mandate of Heaven” Used by the Zhou to justify their actions in overthrowing the Shang

Zhou Period

Priestly Power of elite faded

Result in separation of religion and govt.

Zhou divided into two periods Western Zhou, and Eastern Zhou

Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou 771- 221 B.C.E.

Like the Shang the Western Zhou had direct control over core territory and administered the peripheral areas indirectly

Eastern Zhou declined in central government as regional elites began to rule territories

Eastern Zhou subdivided into two periods

Spring and Autumn period 771-481 B.C.E/Warring states Period 480-221 B.C.E

Zhou Technology

Construction of long walls for defense

Iron and steel metallurgy

Horse riding

Sleeve weight

Eastern Zhou Political Philosophies

Legalism- Human nature is wicked and selfish. People must have strict laws and harsh punishments

Confucianism

Founded by Confucius

Assumes that human nature is essentially good.

Hierarchical view of universe, society, and family

Not influential with it’s founding, but became the dominant political philosophy in the future.

Daoism

Founded by Laozi

Universe is constantly changing

No real moral standards

People should take life as it comes to them.

“Whatever attitude”

Eastern Zhou Society

Development of the three generation family

Concept of Private Property

Privately owned land

Women were subordinate to hierarchy

Yin and Yang

Yin-male- Bright, Shining, Active

Yang-Female- moon, passive, shaded

NUBIA3100 B.C.E – 350 B.C.E

GEOGRAPHY

RESOURCES Gold Copper Semiprecious Stones

OLD KINGDOM NUBIA 5th millennium foragers moved to agriculture Egypt sends donkey caravans to trade in

2300 B.C.E

MIDDLE KINGDOM NUBIA Egypt has aggressive push into Nubia Wanted to control trade and gold mines

THE NUBIAN KUSH Kush is an area in Nubia Started around 1750 B.C.E People skilled in metalworking/pottery

NEW KINGDOM NUBIA Egypt crushes Nubian Kush Egypt controls Nubia for 500 years Egyptian culture mixes with Nubian

MEROE 800 B.C.E – 350 B.C.E Napata was Egyptian capital Meroe became new capital after fall of

Egypt Nubia’s cultural Renaissance

FALL OF MEROE In 701 B.C.E offered to help Palestine

against Assyrian Empire Assyria invaded Egypt and pushed Nubia

back Overran by nomads in 4th century

Celtic Europe1000 B.C.E – 50 B.C.E

Geography

Timber Metals Rivers

Resources

Lived in Europe for thousands of years Around 500 B.C.E. they began trading with

Mediterranean Lived in or near hill forts

Early Celts

Celts Spread Across Europe

3 classes Men Women Ruled by kings Druids

Celtic People

Metallurgy Building ships Agriculture

Celtic Skills

Roman conquest Germanic invasions Celts pushed to NW France, Scotland,

Ireland, and Whales

Fall of the Celts

OLMEC AND

CHAVIN

1200 B.C.E – 250 B.C.E

GEOGRAPHY

MESOAMERICA OLMEC Mexico area Flourished between 1200-400 B.C.E Early people depended on plants and

fishing Resources

OLMEC CAPITALS 1st capital was San Lorenzo (1200-900) 2nd capital La Venta (900-600) 3rd capital Tres Zapotes (600-400) Evolved independently Each was destroyed

OLMEC CULTURE Large platforms of packed earth High quality crafts Homes Diet

OLMEC POLITICS They had kings Associated with the gods Built impressive

structures

OLMEC RELIGION Polytheistic Shamans

CHAVIN Peru area Dominant between 900 – 250 B.C.E Relied on the coast and Andes Capital was Chavin de Huantar

CHAVIN CULTURE Extreme architectural structures Distributed food Llamas Intersection of trade routes

CHAVIN ART Used natural resources Crowns, pottery,

jewelry Skilled artisans

CHAVIN RELIGION Center of civilization Influence depended on

religion Often seen in art

THE END