Chapter 4 Section 4

Loess Court Oracle bones Mandate of Heaven Dynastic cycle Confucianism Daoism

Long rivers Fertile soils Temperate

climates Isolated valleys Two rivers

Chang Jiang (Yangzi)

Huang He (Yellow River)

Huang He more fertile

Loess-yellow dusty soil carried by river and winds

Chang Jiang more rainfall grew rice (south)

Huang He- cooler drier grew wheat and millet

Isolation China could thrive Rivers for irrigation

fertile soil China covered with

mountains and hills Himalayan

Mountains Gobi Desert Protected from

invasion

Huang He Valley 9000 years ago

grew crops Xia Dynasty first

No record of Shang Dynasty

considered the first

1766 BC Strong monarchy Capital Anyang Court- gathering of

wealth nobles King appointed

governors Large army

Mostly agricultural Called to fight or

work on government projects

Shang ruling elite had free time for leisure

Wealthy members collected expensive objects

Beliefs Info from studying

ancient tombs Hundreds of

sacrificed prisoners Afterlife need

riches and servants Centered on

ancestor worship

• Offer gifts to deceased ancestors

• Steam from food believed to nourish ancestors

• Oracle bones-inscribe bits of animal bones– Living person asks

question of ancestor– How bones cracked

was the answer

Chinese writing Early text used

pictures Decorative bronze Built huge stable

structures Calendar based on

the moon Created world’s

first money

comcom

Led China for several centuries

Peaceful period Mandate of heaven-

gods would support a just leader not allow corrupt to hold power

Reason the Zhou overthrew the Shang

Dynastic Cycle- rise and fall of dynasties in China

Any Dynasty that lost power gods let be overthrown

Iron backbone of economy

Catapult China’s first cavalry Farming techniques

Food surpluses Cities grew Canals, roads, chop

sticks, first money

Clan leaders rose against the king

Warring states period Small states fought

for power Qin Dynasty-

brought end to the war and the Shang

Question nature Peoples role in

society Creation of Chinese

Philosophy Confucianism Daoism

Teachings of Konfuzi

Treat one another humanely

Respect others, practice manners

Honoring ancestors Society would

become stable and orderly

Analects-Confucius thoughts

Reward ruler with respect and loyalty

Children must respect their parents

Educated people devote themselves to public service

Spread throughout Asia

Yield to the laws of nature

Dao-the way, limitless force is part of all creation

All things in nature are connected

Achieve harmony in the universe

Yin and yang represents balance

Perfect harmony Need each other Laozi-founder Played major role

in later dynasties Idea of balance a

key concept in China for centuries