Early Civilization in China

1. 3 Early Civilization in China • How did geography influence early Chinese civilization? • What are the characteristics of early Chinese civilization • What were key cultural achievements in early China?

2. 3 The Geography of China As in Egypt and Mesopotamia, Chinese civilization began in a river valley, the Huang He. China was the most isolated of the civilizations. Long distances and physical barriers separated China from, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Egypt, the Middle East, and India. What are they? Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth and the only civilization.

3. Ancient China

4. Pre-Historic China PEKING MAN 500,000 years ago !!! I’m not kidding!!

5. Longshan was a tribal but specialized culture in China, centered on the central and lower Yellow River and dated from about3000 BC to 2000 BC. • high level of skill in pottery making, • the establishment of cities, as rammed earth walls and moats • Rice cultivation • Early small scale silk production • Divination using cracked cattle bones • Beginning of Chinese Writing

6. 夏朝 Xia Dynasty:From Myth to Reality(1959) • ca. 2070 BC–ca. 1600 BC • Capital: Yangcheng • United surrounding warring tribes to control the flooding of the River • Yu the Great succeeded after 13 years! • Diverted the river via canals; not by dikes • Establishment of Feudalism and • hereditary monarchy • Slavery • Currency: Cowries • Astronomy • Calendar based on the Great Dipper (Lunar) • Development of Animal Husbandry

7. 商朝Shang Dynasty • Bronze workers • Development of writing system to over 3,000 characters/symbols • Record keeping using turtle shells • Ancestral worship • Military superiority 1600 BC–1046 BC