Civilizations of Early China

By: Zoe Phelps Grade 8

Development of Chinese Civilization

The ancient civilization of China is different from all other early civilizations because it lasted so long. From its beginning around 1650 B.C.E, the Chinese people created traditions that have lasted to the present day. Today in China, certain ideas and values that were developed thousands of years ago are still respected. Chinese civilization began to take shape in the Huang He river valley with the Shang and Zhou Dynasties over 3500 years ago.

Impacts on Society and Culture

Shang

Beliefs- The Shang believed in many gods and natural spirits. One of the most important gods was Di, the lord on high, who was responsible for sending good harvests, help in battle, rain, thunder, wind, or drought. Confucianism- Confucius believed that people were basically good, but that they needed to be trained to behave well. Confucius identified five virtues and five building blocks of society. To be considered virtuous , people had to be honest, upright, conscientious, charitable, and loving in all personal relationships.

Women in the Tang Dynasty 618 B.C.E - 907 B.C.E

During

the Tang Empire china had its first and only empress. Empress Wu, Women were often important in the Chinese empire. Some ruled as regents for infant sons . After ruling for her husband and two of her sons for 30 years she seized power in 690 in her own name after killing her sons.

Shang Dynasty
The

Shang controlled their territory politically from a walled city at Anyang where the oracle bones were found thousands of years later. The Shang possessed fine bronze weapons and they used horse-drawn chariots in war. The upper class (Kings and Nobles) lived in large timber or stone houses. Peasants lived in small farming communities. Their homes were pits dug into the ground and roofed with thatch.

Literature During the Tang Dynasty

Some

of the greatest poets of Chinese history lived and worked during the Tang Dynasty. One Tang Poetry collection contained 48,000 poems of a single type written by 2200 poets.