Early Chinese Civilization

Mr. KochWorld History A

Forest Lake High School

Early Chinese Civilization

• Ancient China very isolated• Physical barriers (mts.,

deserts, jungle, ocean)

– Viewed self as center of Earth, source of civilization

– Contact w/ outside through trading/nomadic invaders – “barbarians”

• Huang He (“Yellow River” or “River of Sorrows”) and Yangzi provide for largest cities

Shang Dynasty(1650 – 1027 B.C.)

• Govt. not highly centralized • princes/nobles governed most

territory

– Some noble warriors, artisans, merchants

– Most were peasants

Shang Dynasty(1650 – 1027 B.C.)

• Polytheistic– Shang Di and mother goddess– King linked gods/people

• Yin – Earth, darkness, female• Yang – Heaven, lightness,

male– Must be in balance

• Written Chinese (~2000 BC)

– Each word/idea has a symbol (thousands)

Zhou Dynasty(1027 – 256 B.C.)

• “Mandate of Heaven”– Divine right to rule• Used to justify

overthrowing Shang• Kept mandate as long as

governed well• Natural disasters or

catastrophes = loss of favor of Heaven

Zhou Dynasty(1027 – 256 B.C.)

• Developed system of feudalism– Local lords

control/govern lands– Owe support and

military service to ruler

• Saw growth of economy/population

Early Chinese Civilizations

• Major breakthroughs:– Developed 365 ¼ day

calendar– Developed silk-making • major export (Silk Road)

– Made first books