Transcript Shang and Zhou Dynasties

Shang and Zhou Dynasties
Shang 1650-1027 bc
First civilization in Ancient China…
In the other four parts of the world what
were the first civilizations called?
Egypt:
Mesopotamia:
India
•Developed on the Huang He and Yangzi rivers
•So isolated led these Chinese people to believe
they were the center of the Earth and sole source
of civilization. Called themselves “Middle Kingdom”
•Why do you think they called themselves
“Middle Kingdom”?
Government of Shang
Kings
Capital City: Anyang
Kings
Priests/nobles
SOCIAL CLASS
clans
Divided between nobles and peasants
Nobles sent tribute to ruler in exchange
for local control
Religion of Shang
Polytheistic
Chief God: Shang Di (mother
goddess brought plants and animals
to earth)
Veneration of Ancestors: Pray and
give sacrifices to ancestors because
bring good fortune to families
Why worship ancestors and not gods?
Shang religion cont.
Yin/Yang
Yin: earth, darkness, female
Yang: heaven, light, male
Must be harmony between two sides
Shang System of Writing
Used both Pictographs and Ideographs
Found earliest form of writing on Oracle
Bones
Very hard to learn
Advantages: enabled unity: they could not
all speak the same language but could
read it.
Disadvantages: Tens of thousands of
characters, only upper class learned to
read and write – very difficult
Zhou Dynasty: 1027 – 256 bc
Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty
Explanation for taking power from
Shang was the Mandate of Heaven
Mandate of Heaven
Divine right to rule
Gods given ruler the right to rule
Dynasty: Ruling family; hereditary
Created a system based in
Feudalism: Local lords govern their own lands but owed
military service/other forms of support to ruler.
Zhou kings lost power and feudal
lords became more powerful
Advancements made by Zhou
Iron Goods
Iron axes and plows replaced stone or wood
More efficient farming
= use of money for 1st time
More food
Made trade easier
More people
New roads and
Canals built
SILK MAKING
By 1000 bc the Chinese discovered
how to make silk. This fabric became
China’s most valuable export. The
trade route that linked China to the
west became known as the Silk Road.
To protect this profitable traded, the
Chinese kept the silk making process
a secret
Books
Under the Zhou, the Chinese also
made the first books