Early Society in East Asia
Early China
 Agriculture developed in
China around 700 B.C.E.
along the Chang Jiang
and Huang He rivers.
 Rice in the south
 Millet in the north
Early China
 By 3000 B.C.E. people in both river valleys were ling
together in organized communities which managed
their own affairs but communicated, traded, and
interacted with other towns and villages along the
river’s banks.
Early China
 By the end of the third millennium, the larger regional
states of Xia, Shang, and Zhou emerged to bring much
of China under their authority.
Early Agricultural Society and the
Xia Dynasty
 Huang He river made
agricultural possible in
China.
 Xia Dynasty:
 Believed to first emerge in
2000 B.C.E.
 Ancient legends credit Yu as
the founder of Xia



Established precedent for
hereditary monarchial rule in
China.
Effective flood control
projects
Development of metallurgy
The Shang Dynasty
 Followed Xia Dynasty
 Utilized bronze metallurgy, horses, chariots, and other
wheeled vehicles to build large quantities of weapons
and strong armies, which they then used to take over
much of northeastern China.
 Also used bronze metallurgy to build agricultural
surpluses.
The Zhou Dynasty
 Developed along the Wei
River in northwestern
China
 Broke alliance with
Shang and overcame
them.
 Ruled China from 1122
BCE to 256 BCE
The Zhou Dynasty
 Mandate of Heaven – Idea that the emperor’s rule
reflected his role as “son of heaven” and as long as he
governed conscientiously, the cosmos would enjoy
harmonious stability.
 If he failed, the heavens would withdraw their
mandate and transfer it to a more deserving
individual.
The Zhou Dynasty
 Ruled through a decentralized government.
 Period of Warring States – Subordinates of the Zhou
Dynasty started warring with one another.
 Eventually fell, and Qin dynasty emerged.
Society and Family in Ancient China
 Introduction of agriculture, establishment of
sedentary communities, and ensuing accumulation of
wealth within families created the foundations for
social distinctions and patriarchy in China.
The Social Order
 Royal families and allied noble families
 Administrative and military leadership positions
 Free craftsmen and artisans
 Merchants and traders
 Peasants and slaves
Family and Patriarchy
 Patriarchal society with men at the head of the family
possessing tremendous power.
Cultural Development
 Begun during the Xia era
but further developed
during the Shang
dynasty, writing served
as the foundation for
Chinese cultural
traditions.
Ancient China and the Larger
World
 Treacherous geography:
 Hindered, but did not stop, interaction with China.
 Neighbors to the north, west, and south all developed
intense relationships with Chinese agricultural society
 Influence eventually spread to Taiwan, Vietnam, and
Thailand.