Ancient China and East Asia Ancient China and East Asia Ancient China and East Asia Geography and Localized Abundance Ancient China and East Asia Jiahu culture c. 7000 - 5800 Yangshao culture c. 5000 - 3000 Langshao culture c. 3000 - 2000 Xia Dynasty c. 2100 - 1600 Battle of Mingtiao c. 1600 Shang Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 Yangshao culture [c. 5000 – 3000] Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period c. 1046 - 256 c. 722- 476 bce 476 – 221 bce Qin Dynasty 221 – 206 bce Han Dynasty 202 bce – 220 ce and Langshao culture [c. 3000 – 200 Ancient China and East Asia: From Xia to Han Jiahu culture c. 7000 - 5800 Yangshao culture c. 5000 - 3000 Langshao culture c. 3000 - 2000 Xia Dynasty c. 2100 - 1600 Battle of Mingtiao c. 1600 Shang Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period c. 1046 - 256 c. 722- 476 bce 476 – 221 bce Qin Dynasty 221 – 206 bce Han Dynasty 202 bce – 220 ce Early Dynasties Ancient China and East Asia Jiahu culture c. 7000 - 5800 Yangshao culture c. 5000 - 3000 Langshao culture c. 3000 - 2000 Xia Dynasty c. 2100 - 1600 Battle of Mingtiao c. 1600 Shang Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 Earliest writing technique: “Oracle Bones” Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period c. 1046 - 256 c. 722- 476 bce 476 – 221 bce “Oracle Bone,” Shang Dynasty [ca. 1600 – 1046 bce],H. 1 inch, W. 1 ¾ in Qin Dynasty 221 – 206 bce Han Dynasty 202 bce – 220 ce Jiahu culture c. 7000 - 5800 Yangshao culture c. 5000 - 3000 Langshao culture c. 3000 - 2000 Xia Dynasty c. 2100 - 1600 Battle of Mingtiao c. 1600 Shang Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period Ancient China and East Asia c. 1046 - 256 c. 722- 476 bce 476 – 221 bce Qin Dynasty 221 – 206 bce Han Dynasty 202 bce – 220 ce Covered Vessel, Shang Dynasty [ca. 1600 – 1046 bce], bronze, H. 6 inches, W. 4 inches. Ancient China and East Asia Some traits of late Shang and early Zhou culture Shang Dynasty Zhou Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 c. 1046 - 256 Social Hierarchy •Royal family and nobles •Aristocratic families, linked with military power •Free artisans and craftsmen •Peasants •Slaves Religion •No organized religion or priesthood •No dominant idea of a personal, supreme deity •Ancestors venerated, arguably to the point of worship •Eventually developed an impersonal heavenly power that was responsible for the political “mandate of heaven” Ancient China and East Asia Some traits of late Shang and early Zhou culture Wealth and Power •Depended on production of bronze and control of copper and tin •Also depended heavily on military strength and weapons •Also depended, sometimes, on the support of the citizenry Shang Dynasty Zhou Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 c. 1046 - 256 Late Eastern Zhou, Bronze. H. 3 ½ inches Dagger Ax, Western Zhou, bronze, H. 9 ¼ inches, Ancient China and East Asia: From Xia to Han Jiahu culture c. 7000 - 5800 Yangshao culture c. 5000 - 3000 Langshao culture c. 3000 - 2000 Xia Dynasty c. 2100 - 1600 Battle of Mingtiao c. 1600 Shang Dynasty c. 1600 - 1046 Zhou Dynasty Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period c. 1046 - 256 c. 722- 476 bce 476 – 221 bce Qin Dynasty 221 – 206 bce Han Dynasty 202 bce – 220 ce Early Dynasties Zhou Ancient China and East Asia: From Xia to Han Early Dynasties Zhou Zhou Dynasty 722 bce 476 bce Zhou Dynasty ends begins 1046 bce “Spring and Autumn Period” begins - Zhou capital moved east “Warring States Period “ begins 256 bce Zhou Dynasty 722 bce Confucius 476 bce Zhou Dynasty ends begins 1046 bce “Spring and Autumn Period” begins - Zhou capital moved east 551 – 479 bce “Warring States Period “ begins 256 bce Note the (estimated) period when Confucius lived—what relationship can you imagine between Confucius’ search for new ideas about behavior, loyalty, and governance, and the conflict of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period? Ancient China and East Asia: From Xia to Han Zhou Dynasty begins 1046 bce Early Dynasties Qin and the “Unification” of China 722 bce 476 bce Zhou Dynasty ends 230 – 221 bce “Spring and Autumn Period” begins - Zhou capital moved east “Warring States Period “ begins 256 bce Wars of Unification waged by state of Qin -Qin Dynasty begins, 221 bce Ancient China and East Asia: From Xia to Han Qin Dynasty Emperor Qin’s Burial Army, 210 – 209 bce Ancient China and East Asia: From Xia to Han Zhou Dynasty begins 1046 bce Early Dynasties Han 722 bce 476 bce Zhou Dynasty ends 230 – 221 bce 206 bce “Spring and Autumn Period” begins - Zhou capital moved east “Warring States Period “ begins 256 bce Wars of Unification waged by state of Qin. Qin Dynasty begins Qin Dynasty ends, Han Dynasty begins Types of Rule: Divine Monarchy Egypt Mesopotamian empires Divine Right -- ruler claims relationship with deities or claims divine status himself/herself -- attempts to rebel considered sacrilegious -- ruler not subject to the will of anyone on earth -- requires submission of citizens China Mandate of Heaven – Tian Ming -- based on an idea of “just rule” -- emphasizes a ruler’s performance; deemphasizes social and familial background -- implies a right of rebellion -- first used by kings of the Zhou Dynasty to overthrow the Shang -- When mandate is lost, history the only force capable of deciding who regains it