WHI: SOL 3a-e

China

Geographic Features

• Bay of Bengal• South China Sea• East China Sea• Pacific Ocean• Huang He River• Yangzi River• Xi River• Gobi Desert

• Himalaya Mountains• Yellow Sea• Anyang• China• Mongolia• India• Russia

Beginnings

• China began along the Huang He River valley• Huang He got its name from loess or fine,

windblown yellow soil (Yellow River)• Also known as “River of Sorrows” due to the

severe flooding• Isolation due to geographic features• Most cities and people are located along the

Eastern shore

Xia Dynasty• Led by Yu the Great• Yu led the people in working to build canals in

order to control the flooding of the Yellow River• Passed power to his son Qi, which began the

system of dynastic rule or the Hereditary System• Began a period of family or clan control

Shang Dynasty• 1766 b.c. -1122 b.c. corner of northern China• Anyang-capital city• Political: Kings were the head of all clans,

claiming a common ancestor• Kings only controlled small areas• Social:Hierarchy– Royals– Noble Warriors– Artisans and Merchants– Peasants

Shang Dynasty• Religious: oracle bones• A question is carved in a bones or shells, then

exposed to heat until it cracked, the cracks were then interpreted as an answer from the gods

Zhou Dynasty

• 1122 b.c.-corrupt king of Shang was overthrown, established the Zhou dynasty

• Political: Zhou claimed “Mandate of Heaven” or a divine right to rule

• This led into the belief of the dynastic cycle• Used to explain the rise and fall of dynasties

Zhou Dynasty

• Social: Feudalism• Economic: growth of economy, ironworking,

farming became more productive (surplus)• Use of money, increased trade• Religious: polytheistic, ancestor prayer and

offerings