Ancient China

Xia Dynasty 2100-1600

BC
The Xia tribe was noted
to progressively develop
in the time of Zhuanxu,
who is one of the 5 great
Chinese emperors.
The first leader of china
during the Xia dynasty
was Yu the Great who was
the grandson of Zhuanxu.
However, due to the
cruelty, the Shang,
wanted to overthrow their
rule and so ended the Xia
dynasty.

Zhou Dynasty 1045-256

BC

Achievements
The existence of
Xia Dynasty
marked the end of
a primitive
civilization
They introduced
the Abdication
System, in which
they choose a
leader according to
their advanced
abilities and
competence.
The use of stone
tools and fire to
improve their tools.
They improved
agriculture, started
pasturing.
The irrigation
technology was
also greatly
improved and the
production of dried
and earthen goods
took place.
Silk production and
weaving, as well as
drilling and
carving.
The most
important
innovation during
this time was the
creation of a
calendar based on
two different
patterns.
The use of jade,
bronze castings
and bronze vessels
are popular during
this era.
Zhou dynasty was
the golden age for

Failures
One of their
failures was
stopping the
flooding of the
yellow river, which
led to the
execution of Gun,
the great
grandfather of Yu.
The cruelty of the
Xia Dynasty led to
its own downfall in
the hands of the
Shang Dynasty.

The division of the

Zhou Dynasty

Sometime before 1000

BC, a small nomadic clan
named the Zhou whose
ancestry traces even
further back in time, took
permanent residence at
point in the Wei River
Valley and there, they
built a town. This town
was the beginning of the
worlds longest standing
dynasty.
The little town where in
they started, is the center
for their rapidly growing
influence and power. The
steady rise to power and
control climaxed with the
overthrow of the Shang
dynasty.

Chinese
Philosophy. In this
era, the famous
Confucius was born
(515-479 BC).
The birth of
Confucianism.
The philosopher
Lao Tsu founded
and taught of a
naturalistic path
to life which is
Taoism
Agriculture and
technology were
further improved
enough to make
agriculture produce
Chinas main food
source in lieu of
livestock or game.
Hunting became
merely a sport and
ceased to be a
necessity. And they
developed a grid
patter system
which allowed the
farmers to make
better and more
efficient use of
land. It made the
irrigation easier
and systematic.
The use of iron
became popular
during the Zhou
dynasty. They used
iron to improve
their methods,
they devised iron
instruments which
they used for
animal drawn
plowing.
The recording and
the documentation

The distribution of
the lands to his
relatives and
meritorious
ministers which
weakened King
Zhous power and
divided the country
into many small
states.
King Zhous cruelty
and fatuity.

Qin Dynasty 221-206 BC

The Qin dynasty traces its
roots to the granting of a
land by the last heir to
the Zhou dynasty to one
of its dukes, Duke
Zhuang. Zhuangs son
was made the leader of
an expedition marching
eastward from the capital
during which he
established the state of
Qin. It was this state that
had grown and conquered
its neighbors until it
conquered all the states.

Under the wise leadership

of Qin Shi Huang, Qin was
able to conquer all the
other states leading to
the first dynasty as a
unified China.

of history was
more pronounced
during this period.
The book of
documents is the
first book written
on Chinese history.
There is also a vast
of collection of
poems that date to
as early as 1000
BC, there were also
great historical
literary pieces that
emerged from this
dynasty.
Made a standard
writing style for the
empire called,
Quinzhuan.
Reorganized the
markets and trade
and made them
more efficient by
implementing a
uniform standard in
trade and making
the currency more
secure.
Had the most
advanced weapons
compared to other
armies.
The great wall of
China

the emperor kept

citizens from
intellectual growth
by burning scrolls
and books
containing many
different schools of
philosophy at that
time and he even
imposed the
practice of burying
the scholars who
started them.
The burdensome
taxes which were
spent on the
emperors effort to
further fortify his
military and fund
his infrastructures.
Selfishness of the
two political
advisors which led
into them killing
each other, leaving
the emperor
confused.