Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
5000-3000 B.C.E.
Middle region of the Yellow River valley
Banpo village
Painted pottery
Bronze tools
Xia
ca. 2200 B.C.E.
Organized through
village network
Hereditary monarchy
Flood control
Shang
1766-1122 B.C.E.
Zhou
1122-256 B.C.E.
Bronze metallurgy
State monopoly
Horse-drawn chariots, other wheeled vehicles
Large armies
Political organization: network of fortified cities,
loyal to center
1000 cities
Capital moved six times
Impressive architecture at Ao, Yin
Mandate of heaven
Aggregation of villages opposed to Shang leadership
Decentralization of authority
Development of cheap iron weaponry ends Shang
monopoly on bronze
regional powers
Increasing local independence, refusal to pay Zhou taxes
weaponry
Northern invaders weaken Zhou dynasty, beginning
eighth century B.C.E.
Internal dissention: the Period of the Warring States
(403-221 B.C.E.)
determining future
Question written on animal bones, turtle shells
Then heated over fire; cracks examined for omens
Steppe nomads
Poor lands for cultivation, extensive herding activities
Horses domesticated ca. 4000 B.C.E., bronze metallurgy
in 2900 B.C.E.
Extensive trade with sedentary cultures in China
Yangzi valley
Yangzi River: Chang Jiang, long river
Excellent for rice cultivation
Irrigation system developed