China Flashcards
Early Chinese
Much smaller than modern China
Small kingdoms in yellow and Yangtze River valleys
Secluded by mountains and desserts
Fertile soil from rivers however little rain
Early Chinese river
Rivers flooded depositing loess-yellow soil
China’s Sorrow river yellow river sometimes flooded too much(monsoons) built dikes
Who was the first dynasty and what about them
Xia; the first
Family included all relatives
String sense of identity( no contact with others)
Shang dynasty
1st to have historical evidence City walls kept people in and out Tombs-tells there is a religion High level of building skills Tombs built like palaces
Oracles
Someone beloved to predict the future
Used bones and heated them up to figure out answers( decided which way it cracked)
Shang government
Anyang (capital)
King was a descendent of a god
Recieved money through defeated people of wars
When king died younger brother took over
If none oldest son became king
Educated class of priest
What calendar did they use
Lunar
10 day periods
Shang economy
Mostly farmers
What did they grow
Planted millet, type of cereal, wheat, rice, raised cattle horses pigs goats fowl crops the
Sericulture
Expensive silk worms Cultivation of silkworms to make silk Kept secret for 3000 years Trade silk Used cowrie shells for money
Shang writing
Pictures to represent words along with characters (2500) Used brush and ink Calligraphy-beautiful writing Wrote down word on bamboo silk barber Bamboo books
Zhou/ Chou dynasty
Overtook Shang dynasty( Mandate of Heaven)
Longest dynasty-800 yrs
Controlled most of northern china
Too large gave land to vassals
These people gave military aid in return (feudalism)
Oh I
Zhou government
Nobles lived in walled towns Controlled city-states (own country) Vassals had own courts and controlled their area Vassal was hereditary Ruled as if they were kings Vassals became powerful Tried to overtake Zhou City states began fighting
Zhou culture
Education and industry grew rapidly
Considered themselves supior- military
Took pride in education
Some trained positions- doctors judges diplomats poets scientists priests historians
What kingdom emerged by 3rd century bc
Qin
