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China under the Shang DynastyChinese legend says that Pan Gu thefirst man created the universe.The first legendary dynasty was theXia. Scholars are not sure if it actuallyexisted.China’s first historical dynasty was theShang ( 1500 B.C. - 1122 B.C.)The Shang started out of a need tocontrol flooding.True of most river valley civilizations .
Xia2205?1570? bcagriculture, bronze, first writingShang or Yin1570?1045? bcfirst major dynasty; first Chinese calendar, metallurgy, uniform writing codeZhou1045?-256bcdeveloped society using money, iron, written laws; age of ConfuciusQin221-206 bcunification after period of Warring States, building of Great Wall begun, roads builtHan206 bc-ad220first centralized and effectively administered empire; introduction of BuddhismThree KingdomsPeriod220-265division into three states, prolonged fighting and eventual victory of the state of Wei over Chu and Wu; Confucianism superseded byBuddhism and Daoism (Taoism)Jin265-317beginning of Hun invasions in the northSui581-618reunification; barbarian invasions stopped; Great Wall refortifiedTang618-907centralized government; empire greatly extended; period of excellence in sculpture, painting, and poetryWu Dai(Five Dynasties)907-959economic depression and loss of territory in northern China, central Asia, and Korea; first use of paper moneySong960-1279period of calm and creativity; printing developed (movable type); central government restored; northern and western frontiersneglected and Mongol incursions begunYuan1279-1368beginning of Mongol rule in China, under Kublai Khan; Marco Polo visited China; dynasty brought to an end by widespread revolts,centered in MongoliaMing1368-1644Mongols driven out by native Chinese, Mongolia captured by 2nd Ming emperor; period of architectural development; Beijing flourishedas new capitalQing(Manchu)1644-1911China once again under non-Chinese rule, the Qing conquered by nomads from Manchuria; trade with the West; culture flourished, butconservatism eventually led to the dynasty's overthrow by nationalistic revolutionaries led by Sun Yatsen
The Government of the Shang DynastyThe first Shang rulers conquered citystates. Their capital was near Anyang.The Shang rulers practiced a type offeudalism. Land for military service.They used chariots and bronzeweapons.The ruler was the link between heavenand earth.The Mandate of Heaven or divine right
Culture During the Shang DynastyThe Shang ruled from 1500 - 1122.The Shang economy was based onAgriculture.The Shang learned to make silk duringthe Shang dynasty from mulberry treesand silk worms.The Chinese learned to use kaolinpottery, and caste in bronze.Bronze works very ornate and detailed.
Culture During the Shang DynastyThe calendar was based on the moon,had to be adjusted by astronomers.The astronomers became veryimportant and the first historians ofChina.The Chinese language consisted of onesyllable words. More complex wordswere a combination of words.Chinese writing from top to bottom10,000 characters.
Shang ReligionThe religion of the Shang was acombination of animism and ancestorworship.Respect for family and ancestor was animportant part of the religion.Priests played an important role indaily Chinese life. Priest astronomersinterpreted oracle bones.Oracle bones have helped historiansunderstand Chinese history.
Fall of the Shang DynastyThe Shang Dynasty collapsed in 1122B.C.The King failed to guard the northernfrontiers and the Zhou invade from thenorth.Alcohol also added to the problem of acorrupt and poor government.The Zhou dynasty lasts for 800 years.They used iron tools and weapons.
The Zhou and Qin DynastiesThe Zhou dynasty constructed theGrand Canal.Zhou prosperity caused a huge rise inthe population. China in 700 B.C. is themost populated country in the world.The Zhou dynasty was not unified.King You angered the nobles and theyfailed to respond to an attack bybarbarians. 400 B.C. warring citystates, the strongest was the Qin.
The Qin DynastyThe Qin came to power using cavalryusing bows and arrows.Shi Huangdi and the Qin dynastyunified China. The Qin ruled until 207B.C.He standardized weights, coins,measurements and language.A central law and tax code and Chinawas divided into military districts.
The Qin and Han DynastiesThe Qin also built the terracottawarrior tomb for Shi Huangdi.The Qin ruled as an autocracy. Theyused harsh punishment and censorship.Discontent grew and in 202 B.C. LiuBang overthrew the Qin dynasty andestablished the Han.The Han dynasty took its name fromthe Han River. Ruled for 400 years.Most famous emperor was Wu Di.
The Han DynastyThe Han was less autocratic than theQin dynasty.The Han dynasty established a civilservice system. ( officials who see to theday to day operations of government.)Emperor Wu Di believed in leveling orpurchasing and saving crops for hardtimes.Established the Pax Sinica and the SilkRoad connected China with Rome.
Culture During the Shang Dynasty The Shang ruled from 1500 - 1122. The Shang economy was based on Agriculture. The Shang learned to make silk during the Shang dynasty from mulberry trees and silk worms. The Chinese learned to use kaolin pottery, and caste in
