Early Civilizations in China

Stankiewicz World Studies

Essential Questions

• How did geography help shape early Chinese civilization?

• What ideas of government did the Chinese develop?• How did religion effect ancient China?• What were the social classes in ancient China?• What were some of the achievements of early

Chinese civilizations?

Geography of Ancient China

• Ancient Chinese called their land “Zhongguo (the Middle Kingdom)

• Ancient China was very isolated– _________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

– One of the most _________________________ civilization of the ancient world

Geography of Ancient China

• Isolation lead to belief that China _______________________________________

• Also, the feeling China was __________________________

Geography of Ancient China

• Geographic Barriers– To the west and

southwest• ___________________• Tien Shan

Geography of Ancient China

• Geographic Barriers – To the southeast

• _____________

                              

      

Geography of Ancient China

• Geographic Barriers– To the north

• ________________________

– Brutal area

Geography of Ancient China

• Geographic Barriers– To the east

• ______________________

• ______________________

Geography of Ancient China

• Despite these geographic barriers– Chinese did have contact with outside world– _____________________________________

Contact between Peoples in Ancient China

• Most contact was, however, with warlike, nomadic invaders

• Looked at nomads(non-Chinese) as _________________________________– ______________________________________– ______________________________________acc

ording to the Chinese

Contact between Peoples in Ancient China

• ______________________________________________________________________

• When they attacked and sometimes conquered Chinese ___________________

_________________________________________________________ rather than change it

• Yet, Chinese still expanded to vast areas

Main Geographic Regions in China

• As the Chinese expanded their empire came to include many ______________________– Many climates and landforms

Main Geographic Regions in China

• ___________________________________– East coast – Valleys of the Yellow River and Yangzi River

• Rivers formed communications and transportation routes

• Irrigation supply

– ______________________________________

                                         

      

Main Geographic Regions in China

• Outlying regions – Invaders constantly attacked these regions– Chinese government made alliances with regions

often• ___________________________________• ___________________________________• Xingjian• ___________________________________

Dynasties, Government and Social Classes

Ideas of government

• Many rivers would flood yearly, including the Yellow River

• Ancient Chinese needed a _____________ government to create water projects necessary to control the river

• ___________________________________

Dynasties and Government

• Shang Dynasty• Dominated from 1650

BC until 1027 BC• __________________

________________________________________________________________________

Dynasties and Government

• Shang Dynasty had great tombs and palaces• Warrior kings led their armies from walled

cities against any invader– _________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

• Noblemen had considerable status– They controlled the rest of lands and were loyal to

Shang kings

Dynasties and Government

• Clans important• ______________________________________

________________________________• Because of this loose bond between King and

Noblemen the civilization of China was more like Sumer city states than Egypt

Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs

• Under Shang Dynasty• ___________________________________• Nature gods and spirits• Chief god was _______________________

– Mother goddess who brought plants and animals to world

Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs

• Gods as great as Shang Di would not respond to needs of everyday people

• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• People prayed to ancestors to intercede for them in daily life

Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs

• At first only ancestors of rulers and powerful were thought to help intercede

• Later veneration of ancestors in all classes was practiced throughout Chinese society

• _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Consulting Ancestors

• __________________– Interpreting questions

                 

      

Ancient Chinese Religious Beliefs

• Yin and Yang• __________________

____________________________________

• Delicate balance• Not opposites• Well being of universe

depends on harmony between Yin and Yang

Yin

• Linked to:– _________________________________– Darkness– _________________________________

Yang

• Linked to:– _____________________________________– Light– ______________________________________

Social Classes

• Royal Family• Nobles• Artisans and merchants• __________________________________

Peasants

Clustered together in farming villages

• Lived in thatched roofed houses with _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ and warm in winter

Accomplishments

Writing (accomplishment)

• Ancient Chinese developed a system of writing that used:– Pictographs– Ideographs

• _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Writing (an accomplishment continued)

• Calligraphy - Fine handwriting• Writing fostered unity

– ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Another Early Dynasty

• Zhou Dynasty• Overthrew the Shang in 1027 BC• ______________________________________

___________________________________________________________________– Cruelty of Shang Dynasty led to Zhou uprising– Heaven told Zhou to rule the people fairly

Zhou Dynasty

Dynastic Cycle

• Circular• Aging Dynasty

– ______________________________________– Becomes corrupt– ______________________________________

• New Dynasty – ______________________________________

Dynastic Cycle

Feudalism in Ancient China

• Started by Zhou Dynasty• A system of government which local lords own

land but owed military service and support to the ruler

• __________________________________• Developed in Japan and Europe later

Other Accomplishments

• Silk making• ___________________________________• Strong economies

Things to know for this test • Dynastic Cycle – in detail• How did geography effect early Chinese civilization• Compare Religion – Shang Di and Egypt• Yin and Yang• Ancestral veneration• Clans/Feudalism• You can do very well on this test if you study, we

have faith in you!