One of the reasons for their success was the Yellow River used for agriculture. The founder of this dynasty was Yu. The Xia dynasty encouraged advances in civilization. During this time there was a demand for better tools and bronze replaced wood and stone tools.
The Shang dynasty followed in 1766. During this time there was major growth of cities. Wheeled carts and chariots were invented for transportation. They began sharing their ideas with surrounding neighbors. Arts and Crafts become very popular for trade. Shang rulers had many military armies at their disposal.
The following was the Zhou dynasty. One of the major principles that were set during the Zhou dynasty was the Mandate of Heaven. This concept is that the ruler is considered the son of heaven and served as a link between heaven and earth. The heavenly powers would have to approve of his work or the dynasty would fail and the heavenly powers would withdraw the mandate and give it to someone deserving. The Zhou dynasty was much larger than the Shang. During the Zhou dynasty they made money through trade because they had successful canals and irrigation systems. Th
asty was considered to be one of the first attempts to organize public life in China. One of the reasons for their success was the Yellow River used for agriculture. The founder of this dynasty was Yu. The Xia dynasty encouraged advances in civilization. During this time there was a demand for better tools and bronze replaced wood and stone tools.
During the Shang Dynasty writing was extensively used. Writing served the interest of rulers. They kept written accounts on silk and bamboo of important events. There was also early Chinese literature during these times. It was hard for China to have communication with neighboring societies due to the high mountain ranges, deserts, and seas that stood between China and other early societies. Ancient China did find ways to influence other societies. The first great Chinese thinker who addressed the problems of political and social order was Kong Fuzi. He is also known as Confucius in English. He thought that the best way to fill government jobs was with well-educated and highly conscientious individuals. He focused on Junzi (superior individuals) There were five basic relationships between the superior an inferior status. The task of the inferior was to be totally loving, loyal, and obedient to superior. The wife was inferior to her husband. The children were inf!
erior to both parents. The boy was superior of the siblings. Friends had duel status and the village head was most superior.
There were two classical societies in China, Qin and Han Dynasty"tms. Qin dynasty is how China got its name. It also unified China. They had a centralized government and an imperial system. They had standard laws, a currency system, and a writing system. During the Qin Dynasty the Great Wall was built to keep invaders out of China. They improved roads, irrigation, and built bridges. In 210 B.C.E. the Qin emperor died. The succeeding dynasty was the Han, which became one of the longest and most influential of all of Chinese history. There were many inventions that sprouted during this time. Some of them were paper, porcelain, silk, iron, tea, seismograph, and the wheelbarrow. There was also a network of trade routes that were established during this time called silk roads. The first university for
3
1537 
6 
9 
)
