CHINA3000 B.C. – 300 B.C.

RiversThe Huang (Yellow River)

2,900 miles acrossFertile Soil “Loess” Yellow tintFloods/Built dikes

The ChangXi

Geographical Setting/Natural BarriersGobi Desert (Harsh)

Himalayan Mnts. (Rugged)

Rain Forests

Pacific Ocean

Well Protected (Strong Identity & Distinctive Culture)

Civilizations Dynasty

Rulers from same family

Shang DynastyCreated China’s first dynastyBureaucracy (Well organized government)Introduced simple irrigation & Flood Control

Zhou Dynasty“Mandate of Heaven” (Right to Rule)Longest dynasty in history

Qin DynastyAutocracyShort dynasty 15 years

CivilizationsHan Dynasty

Civil Service System (Elite)

Price Leveling System

Trade “Silk Road”

ReligionPolytheistic

Gods of Nature & Control Human Destiny

AnimismAll spirits inhabit everything – Ancestor worship

Oracle BonesPriests important

BuddhismConfucianismDaoismLegalism

GovernmentDynastiesFeudal System

Territories ruled by familyNobles

Mandate from Heaven

Bureaucracy

Autocracy

Civil Service

Leaders• Shang Dynasty

• Zhou Dynasty

• Qin Dynasty

• Han Dynasty

Written LanguagePictographs

IdeogramsIdeas or activities

CalligraphyEventually writing became art

Ideograms

Social ClassesShang Dynasty

KingsNoblesPriestsPeasants

Zhou DynastyGovernment OfficialsSoldiersArtisansMerchantsPeasants

AchievementsCalendarLeveling SystemCalligraphyGenealogyAcupunctureAstronomyIrrigationJade OrnamentsIvory CarvingsPaperSundial

Bronze Weapons

The Spoke Wheel

Pottery, Porcelain

Silk Textiles

Two-Horse Chariot

Yoke & Harness

Seismograph