Indus and Chinese Civilizations
Ancient River Valley
Civilizations Unit
DO IT!! Come on, DO IT!
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Take a minute to look
at the geography of
Asia. How might this
help or hurt the
development of
Ancient Civilizations
in this region?
In a sheet of paper,
write down some
ideas.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/18/Map_of_China_(physical).png/400px-
To China We Go!
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Geography of China kept it very
isolated.
Himalayas, Gobi Desert, Jungles, +
Pacific Ocean kept China cut off.
In China, two rivers (Huang He and
Chang) created very fertile soil.
Area around these rivers became
most populated.
GEE, I wonder why???
http://www.geocities.com/kellyjean9/think
er_animated.jpg
BINGO!
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Rivers provided fertile soil to farm in.
Also provided irrigation and transportation.
Fishing, trade, etc.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/images2/smiley.gif
The Shang Dynasty
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Dynasties begin ruling China in 1500 BC
What’s a dynasty? – ruling family, passed
down to family members
Shang dynasty 1st in China around 1500 BC
Shang responsible for building 1st cities, like
Anyang.
Those Crazy Shang Peeps…
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Polytheistic
Kings communicated with gods.
Made human sacrifices for good harvest or battle.
Used oracle bones to read the future.
1st known writing in China.
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/images/shng-ora.jpg
The Wu Wang Clan
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Wu Wang takes over,
starts new dynasty called
Zhou.
Expands Chinese
boundaries
Develops feudalism
What’s That?
http://www.azcustomshirts.com/catalog/images/WUTANG.jpg
The Mandate of Heaven
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Used to determine ruler
Divine right to rule from heaven
Indications that new leader was needed included
floods, famine, battle losses, etc.
The Qin Dynasty
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Ruled China from 221-206 B.C.
Qin dynasty comes in after Zhou.
Qin Shi Huangdi, “First Emperor” makes many
changes.
Contributions:
– Writing system
– Monetary system
– Weights and measures
– Canals, new roads
The Civilizations in
China had an
I.M.P.A.C.T. on other
Civilizations
Invasions from the north
leads to Great Wall (Qin
Dynasty)
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Starts at Yellow Sea and stretches inland for
1,400 miles.
Mandate of Heaven =
Chinese rulers are divine
http://perso.orange.fr/charite/lich%20su%20anh%20ngu/Minh%20Mang.jpg
Paper, porcelain, silk, &
a civil service system are
left behind
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/i
mages/photogallery/0014500/por
celain%2010014085tm.jpg
http://www.chinahighlights.com/map/images/ancient_silk_road_map1.gif
Can you see the silk road?
A lot of families or
dynasties ruled
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http://www.galen-frysinger.ws/china/tangdynasty12.jpg
T’ang
Dynasty
Classical China is
centered on the Huang
He River
Three important belief
systems: Confucianism,
Taoism, Buddhism
Reflection
 What
letter of IMPACT do you
think is most important to
Western culture?