Xia Dynasty

2,205 BC 1,806 BC
Noella Horo, Class V

The Mystery Dynasty

For many years, Xia
Dynasty was believed to
be a myth
No written records, only
oral histories
Archaeological evidence
found only in 1959
Despite archaeological
evidence, its not
universally accepted as a
true Dynasty

The Mystery Dynasty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=qXrkF5Nd4i8

Yu the Great,
Dynasty
Great Engineer,
dedicated 13 years to
Founder
control the flood of
Yellow River
Dug canals and,
Directed Yellow
river flow to the sea
Prevention of flood led
to growth of farm
crops
Strengthened Xia tribe
and brought affluence
Believed to be
grandson/fifth
generation of Zhuanxu

Abdication To Hereditary

Yu selected heir to the

throne due to his
achievement
Though his own dad
was executed for
failing to control
flood
Yu set up Abdication
System(Leader
selection based on
competence)
After his death, his son
Qi made himself
emperor
Thus The hereditary
Rule Started

Dynasty Chronology
Xia Dynasty

Dynasty Chronology

Life Under Xia Dynasty

Government
A Monarchy
Under the king, feudal
lords ruled nine states
Each lord swore fealty to
king.
Language - Old Chinese
Economy - Xia were agrarian
people
Clothes
Rich wore silk clothes,
while poor wore hemp,
rough material made from
plant fibre
Wore long robes with or
without belt; buttons

Life Under Xia Dynasty

Housing
Rich lived in large wooden houses
circling around a courtyard, roofs
built from tiles in curved shapes
Poor lived in hovels of two or less
bedrooms
Little or no furniture
Food
Poor had little food, lived on rice,
noodles, dumplings
Rich ate rice, wheat, millet,
vegetables and lot of meat eg
pork, chicken, duck, dog,fish
Rich also drank wine and tea
Religion
Believed in spirits, life after death,
buried their dead

Beliefs - Xia Dynasty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=_95zr6VetkE

Agriculture Progressed
Irrigation technology
improved
Wine was made
Specialised in raising
domestic animals
Pasturing started
Horse breeding was given
great importance
Silk production and weaving
took place

Xia Dynasty Warfare

Xia Dynasty established through

battles between Xia tribe and
Chiyou tribe
Records show that the Xia
dynasty has troops of soldiers
Small and unprofessional
armies, consisting of farmers
Invented Chariots & Bronze
weapons
Bronze spears, arrowheads and
axes unearthed in the Erlitou
site
Some jade weapons also
unearthed, like the axes, knife,
spear and so on. Jade axes were
very fine and symbolized power.

Slaving Dynasty

In those times, it was tedious to

grow vegetable and plants
So winning tribes captured
people of losing tribes and
enslaved them for agriculture
labor.
Believed to have enslaved
Mongols too, although no
evidence found
The slaves had no freedom, and
they had to work hard for their
masters.
After master died, slaves were
killed or buried alive to serve
their masters in the other world.

Science & Technology

Created Chinese Lunar Calendar
First form of calligraphy emerged
Commenced use of stone tools
like hand axe
Made use of fire in perfecting
stone tools
Drilling and carving technology
started
Production of dried and earthern
good took place
Use of jade, bronze vessels and
bronze casting became popular

Art and Craft

Pre-Xia, artefacts mainly
comprised forms of
pottery made of bone,
ivory or stone.
Xia Dynasty culture is
best known for
Bronze making, gold
smithing and other
metal work
Jade carving,
Sculpture like Ivory
carving

End of Xia Dynasty

The Shang dynasty came into
power after the Xia Dynasty
due to Xia Jie.
His ways were cruel and he
abused his power
Under Tangs guidance, the
common people killed Jie
And over threw the Xia
dynasty, starting the Shang
Dynasty

Quick Recap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=K9NSQ62fvEk

Quiz
How long did Xia Dynasty last?
When did it start?
How long did it take Yu to control the
mighty Yellow rivers floods?
How did Yu control the Yellow rivers
floods?
Tell two scientific developments under Xia?
Why is Xia known as slaving dynasty?
Two defining facts of houses of rich people

Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi_of_Xia
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/xia/
http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/cn.article.htm
http://factsanddetails.com/china/cat2/sub2/entry-4278.html
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/387661480401310181/
https://slaveryinjustice.wordpress.com/slavery-in-ancient-china/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jie_of_Xia
http://www.china-mike.com/chinese-history-timeline/part-1-early-dyn
asties
/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xia_dynasty
http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/clothing.php
http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/xia_dynasty.php