The Huang Ho Valley civilization in northern China developed around 2000 BC. Led by the mythical ruler Yu the Great, they drained the land and founded the Xia kingdom, uniting northern China. By 1800 BC, isolated villages and farms had developed in the Huang Ho Valley, using the river for trade. The first records of Chinese civilization come from the Shang Dynasty, which came to power in 1766 BC and built the first Chinese cities. The Shang worshipped spirits and ancestors and were ruled by a king who received power from spirits and wisdom from ancestors. Religious and government authority were intertwined.

1. Section 2
The Huang Ho Valley -
China

2. The Huang Ho Valley
• 2000 B.C. civilization in Huang
Ho valley of northern China
developed
• No records, no remains
• What is known comes from
legend
• A man-god named Yu the
Great drove out serpents &
dragons
• Drained the land so people
could live & grow crops
• Yu founded kingdom of Xia
• United Northern China under
his rule

3. • Chinese legends tell the stories of Yu and another man-god, Fu His.
Here, Fu Hsi points to eight geometric designs used to tell the
future. Why are legends important to historians studying early
China?

4. Huang Ho Valley
• Valley was isolated from other
civilizations
• Unique culture developed
• By 1800 B.C. villages & farms
developed
• River used for travel & trade
• Built clay ovens, benches,
pottery
• First records of Chinese
civilization come from a
dynasty, or ruling family, called
Shang
• The Shang came to power
1766 B.C.
• Built first Chinese cities

5. Shang China
• Palace & Temple stood in city
center
• Public buildings & homes of
government officials around
palace
• Countryside: burial grounds,
homes of workers, farmers
• Farmers produced silk for
clothes

6. Spirits, Ancestors, & Kings
• The Shang worshiped spirits,
or supernatural beings
• They believed they lived in
mountains, rivers, & seas
• People believed they must
please the spirits for good
fortune & harvest
• The Shang people believed
that ancestors, or
descendants, also influenced
people’s fortunes.
• Offered ancestors food, wine,
special prayers
• Family ties were very important
due to respect for ancestors

7. Shang Culture
• Family rules of conduct
• Children taught to obey
parents, honor elders
• King believed to receive power
from spirits of nature, wisdom
from ancestors
• Religion & Government tied
• Under king, large class of
Nobles, or people of high rank
• Hunted and went to war

8. Decline of Shang
• Great gap between rich & poor
• Neither group felt any loyalty
toward the other
• Experts believe this wealth gap
weakened Shang civilization
• In 1122 B.C. the Zhou invaded
Shang
• Shang civilization ended