early chinese civilizations. geography of china civilization began between the yellow river and the...
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Early Chinese Civilizations
Geography of China• Civilization began
between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River– Needed for farming.
• Only 10% of China is farmable.– Farmland =
valuable
• Geographically isolated from other civilizations.– Mountains and
deserts create natural barriers.
Early Chinese Government
• Religious and governmental traditions are established during the Shang Dynasty (1750 – 1045 BC)– 2nd Chinese dynasty;
followed Xia– Dynasty
• A succession of rulers from the same family.
• King’s land was divided into territories governed by the aristocracy.– Powerful upper-class
landowners.– Aristocrats were military
leaders with their own armies (warlords).• Major concern was war.
– King could choose and remove the warlords.
KING
WARLORDWARLORD
WARLORD
ARMY
ARMY
ARMY
Early Chinese Religion• Believed that supernatural
forces could intervene in worldly affairs.
• Practiced ancestor worship.– Stems from belief in life after
death.– Spirits of ancestors could
bring good or bad fortune to living family members.
• Human sacrifices used to win favor of gods.– Accompany king in life after
death.• Utilized oracle bones to
communicate with gods.– A priest would write questions
on a bone; a heated metal rod would be stuck into it; the priest would then read the cracks and interpret the answer.
Chinese Writing• Uses pictographs and ideographs
– Symbols which represent an object or idea.
Zhou Dynasty• In 1045 BC the Zhou
overthrew the Shang.– Longest-lasting
dynasty in Chinese history•1045 – 256 BC
• Believe in the Dynastic Cycle– All dynasties will
rise and fall.• Explained their right
to rule as a Mandate of Heaven.– King was given
the authority to rule from Heaven.
Dynastic Cycle
Dynasty is founded by a powerful leader
Period of power and prosperity
Period of decline
Period of rebellion – Dynasty overthrown
Leader gains Mandate of Heaven
Leader loses Mandate of Heaven
Society declines, natural disaster
Restores peace and gloryImproves society
Roots of Philosophy: The Decline of the Zhou
• Zhou had been divided into many small kingdoms.– Civil War breaks
out– “Period of the
Warring States”• Lasts from 475BC
to 221BC
• During this time, Chinese philosophers wanted to create stability in society.– Become ideas behind Confucianism &
Taoism