2. Ancient
China

3. Neolithic
China

4. “Peking Man”
(750,000 – 500,000 BCE)
Sinanthropus
pekinesis

5. Yellow River Civilization

6. Neolithic Pottery
3000 BCE to
2000 BCE

7. The 4 Old-World
River Valley Cultures

8. Pan-Gu: Mythical
Creator of the Universe

9. “Chung Kuo”
(The “Middle Kingdom”)

10. Hsia Dynasty
2205-1027 BCE

11. Yu, the Great – Founder
of the Hsia

12. “Huangdi” – Emperor

13. “Huangdi” – Emperor
 The “Yellow
Emperor.”

14. “Huangdi” – Emperor
 The “Yellow
Emperor.”
 Legend has it that
he ruled for over
100 years.

15. “Huangdi” – Emperor
 The “Yellow
Emperor.”
 Legend has it that
he ruled for over
100 years.
 Associated with the
invention of
wheeled vehicles,
ships, armor,
pottery, and
silk-making.

16. Emperor Fuxi

17. Emperor Fuxi
 Mythical Hsia
ruler.

18. Emperor Fuxi
 Mythical Hsia
ruler.
 Taught the
Chinese how
to read and
write,
according to
legend.

19. Hsia Plaque, 1700 BCE

20. Shang Dynasty
1766-1027 BCE

21. Bronze Age Empires

22. Shang: 1523-1028 BCE

23. Oracle Bones

24. Oracle Bones Calendar

25. The Evolution of Chinese
Writing during the Shang

26. The Evolution of Chinese
Writing during the Shang
Pictographs Semantic-Phonetics

27. Axe Scepter – 1100 BCE - jade
Ceremonial Dagger – 1028 BCE

28. Shang
Urn

29. Shang Bronzes

30. Ritual Wine Vessel – bronze, 13c BCE

31. Zhou Dynasty
1027 - 256 BCE

32. Western Zhou: 1027-771 BCE

33. Eastern Zhou: 771-256 BCE

34. Ritual Food Vessel, bronze
11c BCE (Western Zhou)

35. Pendant of a Dancer - jade
3c BCE (Eastern Zhou)

36. Ritual Wine Vessel – 4c
bronze, silver, gold, copper

37. Zhou Coins - bronze

38. “T’ien Ming”
The Mandate of Heaven

39. “T’ien Ming”
The Mandate of Heaven
1.The leader must lead by ability and
virtue.

40. “T’ien Ming”
The Mandate of Heaven
1.The leader must lead by ability and
virtue.
2.The dynasty's leadership must be
justified by succeeding generations.

41. “T’ien Ming”
The Mandate of Heaven
1.The leader must lead by ability and
virtue.
2.The dynasty's leadership must be
justified by succeeding generations.
3.The mandate could be revoked by
negligence and abuse; the will of
the people was important.

42. The
Dynastic
Cycle

43. Start here A new
dynasty
comes to power.
The
Dynastic
Cycle

44. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
The
Dynastic
Cycle

45. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Cycle

46. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Cycle

47. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Cycle Taxes increase;
men forced to
work for army.
Farming neglected.

48. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Cycle Taxes increase;
men forced to
work for army.
Farming neglected.
Govt. increases
spending;
corruption.

49. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Cycle Taxes increase;
men forced to
work for army.
Farming neglected.
Droughts, Govt. increases
floods, spending;
famines occur. corruption.

50. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
(extensive wars,
invasions, etc.)
Poor lose
respect for govt.
Cycle Taxes increase;
men forced to
They join rebels work for army.
& attack landlords. Farming neglected.
Droughts, Govt. increases
floods, spending;
famines occur. corruption.

51. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
people improved;
taxes reduced;
Rebel bands find
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
strong leader who
(extensive wars,
unites them.
invasions, etc.)
Attack the emperor.
Poor lose
respect for govt.
Cycle Taxes increase;
men forced to
They join rebels work for army.
& attack landlords. Farming neglected.
Droughts, Govt. increases
floods, spending;
famines occur. corruption.

52. The emperor
Start here A new
reforms the govt.
dynasty
& makes it more
comes to power.
efficient.
Lives of common
Emperor is people improved;
defeated !! taxes reduced;
Rebel bands find
The farming encouraged.
Dynastic
Problems begin
strong leader who
(extensive wars,
unites them.
invasions, etc.)
Attack the emperor.
Poor lose
respect for govt.
Cycle Taxes increase;
men forced to
They join rebels work for army.
& attack landlords. Farming neglected.
Droughts, Govt. increases
floods, spending;
famines occur. corruption.