2,000200 B.C.

1
Yellow River Valley Civilization

• 2,000-200 B.C.

2
I. Geography of ChinaA. China, like the
Indus Valley is surrounded
by natural barriers.1.2.3.4.
3
(No Transcript)
4
Two major river systems are1. Yangtze River
(AKAChang Jiang)2. Huang He (AKAYellow)
5
Deserts and mountains dominate 2/3 of the
geography of China.1. 90 of the remaining
available farmland lies between these
two rivers. Chinas Heartland
6
Chinese attitudeA. Chinese saw anyone who
was not Chinese as barbarians.
B. They considered themselves to
be at the center of the civilized
world.
7
Chinese attitudeex. Called themselves the
Middle Kingdom
8
Environmental ChallengesA. Huang He
River-Yellow River would deposit yellow
silt called loess along its banks.
This caused flooding or drought.
9
Ex. 1887a flood killed nearly a
million people
10
B. Geographic isolation did not allow trade.
CULTURAL DIFFUSION
11
IV. Chinese Dynasties and their
accomplishments1. Xia Dynastyflood
control, irrigation and no written records

12
Shang Dynasty(1532-1027 B.C.)1st dynasty
to leave written records.
13
Ancient Chinese Writing
14
3. Zhou Dynastyabout 1027 B.C., the Zhou family
overthrew the Shang and claimed that the gods had
become angry with Shang cruelty and had chosen
the Zhous to rule.
15
Mandate of Heaven