1 / 19

Early China: Shang & Zhou Dynasties

Early China: Shang & Zhou Dynasties. Opening Question. How do rulers become rulers? Today we will examine this question more thoroughly. Geography. Natural barriers isolate China: North: Desert South: Mountains East: Ocean West: Desert & Mountains 2 rivers (Huang He, Chang Jiang)

camden
Download Presentation

Early China: Shang & Zhou Dynasties

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Early China:Shang & Zhou Dynasties

  2. Opening Question • How do rulers become rulers? • Today we will examine this question more thoroughly

  3. Geography • Natural barriers isolate China: • North: Desert • South: Mountains • East: Ocean • West: Desert & Mountains • 2 rivers (Huang He, Chang Jiang) • people to face 3 main challenges: • Disastrous floods, • isolation from other civs • poor land (only 10% is fertile)

  4. Geography • Land between rivers has always been the heartland of China • Legendary first leader, Yu, was a skilled engineer who proposed irrigation as flood control

  5. Check for Understanding • Based on the geographical information just shared, what can you predict early Chinese civilization was like?

  6. Shang Dynasty • Powerful family rose to power in 1700 BCE • Built first major city (Anyang) w/massive city walls, due to constant warring between peasants & Shang family • First era of written records

  7. Shang Culture • Chinese considered selves center of the world “Middle Kingdom” • Strict obedience to authority (gov’t, parents, men) • Strong division between nobles & peasants, nobles ruled villages on behalf of King • Religion emphasized good fortune & ancestor worship • Supreme God: Shang Di, ruled all

  8. Technology: Writing • Each character represented a syllable or unit • Writing & Speaking completely separate • Advantage: everyone learns same writing, even if different dialects spoken • Made gov’t control & communication easier • Disadvantage: up to 10,000 characters ---- too many!

  9. Zhou Dynasty • In 1027 BCE, overthrew Shangs • Instituted the Mandate of Heaven • Justified rebellion by declaring the gods were unhappy w/the Shangs • New view that authority came from heaven • Natural & Social events may be signs of approval/disapproval • Explanation for shifts in gov’t

  10. Zhou Feudalism • Control over regions given to noble families • Nobles use King’s lands – owe military service, loyalty, protection over peasants in return • Nobles became strong locally, built wealth/power & sometimes challenged the King

  11. Technological Improvements • Roads & Canals built for transportation and trade • Coined money, no bartering system – set prices • Cast iron (2,000 years before Europe), built excellent weapons & tools

  12. Zhou Collapse • Ruled until 256 BCE • Faced attacks from northern nomads, killed the King • Lords fought one another for land & power, declared selves “Kings” • Harmony of Shang/Zhou era replaced with greed, fear, conflict

  13. Assessment Q’s • 1. Which event do you think was the most significant turning point in early Chinese history? • 2. What family obligations did a Chinese person have? • 3. Do you think that the Zhou dynasty’s downfall resulted from its method of control? Why or why not?

More Related