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