Birth of Civilisation in China

Origin

• First appeared in a fertile valley – the valley of the Yellow River (Huanghe) in north China.

• Plains consist of the fine soil called loess

• This makes the plains fertile and suitable for farming

• Dangerous because of frequent floods

Valley of the Yellow River

• Like the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation,the ancient Chinese who first settled along the banks of the Yellow River had to learn how to control floods and transport water from the river to their fields.

Yangshao and Longshan

Around 3000 BCE

• Yangshao villages existed on the Yellow River plains

• Evidence: 1950s• People who grew millet and kept pigs and

dogs• Hunted with bow and arrows• Used tools made of stone and bone

Yangshao

Longshan

• Appeared in the same region of northern China

• More advanced than the Yangshao people• Lived in walled communities, grew rice and

millet and raised cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs• Used potters’ wheels, the made fine pottery• Today, they are remembered for their polished

black pottery

Longshan

By 1500 BCE

• Out of the Longshan culture arose China’s first civilisation – Shang Civilisation

• Yellow River Plains – cradle of Chinese civilisation

Remains of the Shang Civilisation have been found between the present-day cities of Anyang and Luoyang

Features of the Shang Civilisation

1) Government – ruled by kings- dynasty

- lived in a capital city- ruled surrounding villages and smaller cities- palaces, temples and storage houses for food in the capital city

2) Different occupations – farmers, traders, priests and craftsmen

Craftsmen – made bronze objects such as weapons, wine cups and jars

- made beautiful silk clothes and jade ornaments for the kings and their

families

3) Writing – one of the greatest contributions to Chinese culture was the writing system or script

Pictographic writing – form of writingPictographs - characters

Oracle bones

Oracle bones

• Used by priests to tell the future• Shang priest would interpret cracks (produced on

the bones by applying heat) as giving answers to questions about the future

• Questions and answers were carved onto the bones

• Shoulder bones of sheep, cows and turtle shells• Used to record family histories and events

(eclipses of the sun and moon)

Fall of the Shang Dynasty

• Last king was killed c. 1150 BCE• Ruled next by Western Zhou dynasty (1027-

771 BCE)• Similar culture with the Shang kings• Around 771 BCE – killed the Zhou king• His son had to move his capita eastward

(Eastern Zhou dynasty) (771-221 BCE)

• Fighting continued for 232 years - known as the Period of Warring States

• Finally in 221 BCE, a prince managed to unite these kingdoms to form the first Chinese empire under the Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE)

Emperor Qin Shi Huang

Qin Dynasty