China

= China =

**Political**
-Yangshao Societies/Banpo Village: -neolithic society that developed own style of pottery and architecture, along with political, social, and cultural traditions; developed in middle region of Yellow River valley; Banpo was major village of society -Xia Dynasty: -made one of first efforts to organize public life in China on a large scale; extended formal control over this region, establishing precedent for hereditary monarchical rule; probably exercised power throughout middle Yellow River valley by controlling leaders of individual villages -Shang Dynasty: -relied on large corps of political allies; ruled as a centralized state; authority rested on vast network of walled towns whose locals rulers recognized the authority of Shang kings; may have controlled 1000 or more towns; local rulers, advisors, ministers, craftsmen, and metalsmiths helped shape policy -Zhou Dynasty: -much larger than Shang; central court did not rule entire land effectively with the transportation and communication technologies available, relying on decentralized administration (entrusted power in subordinates); subordinates ruled with limited supervision from the government

**Economic**
-The Xia dynasty was mostly an agricultural society and economy. - The Shang and Zhou dynasties built on that economy and grew from villages to large towns to large cities. -During the Shang dynasty the Chinese economy was boosted by the production of bronze. -Shang had a monolopy on bronze production -China had trade networks that connected them with the west and south. -They used oar-propelled boats to trade with Korea and off shore islands. -Chinese farmers also traded with the nomadic peoples of the steppe lands.

**Religion**
-Dynasties did not recognize a central deity -Honored ancestors as ways to keep their good fortune and prosperity

Social
-Due to introduction of agriculture, sedentary communities and increasing wealth in families, social distinctions and patriarchy became a daily part of life for the Chinese -Society was split up into different social classes -The nobles and royal family were part of the ruling elites -Aristocrats, consisting of administrative or military leaders, was directly below the ruling elites -The craftsmen/artisan class and the merchant/trader class are very close if not equal in status depending on who they were favored by and their connections -The lowest status was reserved for the peasants and slaves who owned no land and provided labor for various purposes such as agricultural or military in exchange for land to cultivate or protection. -Women had a entire status of their own. Women were in charge of managing the house, taking care of and producing children while also making food, weaving and making clothes, and some agricultural labor. However they had very little authority. The father and sons had primary authority over the women but still had to respect the women

Innovation
-Not based around religion -Had dynasties -Developed a system of writing -Each dynasty ruled in a different way -Metallurgy -Writing began in the Xia era and developed through the Shang dynasty. -Wrote important inscriptions on broad bones. -Built heavy wagons.

**Art****-Fine painted pottery and bone tools that were used by early cultivators in the sixth and fifth milennia B.C.E. were found in the neolithic village of Banpo.****-During the Shang Dynasty, the use of bronze metallurgy transformed the Chinese society.****-Bronze was used to create horse-drawn chariots, tools, weapons.****-During the Zhou Dynasty, iron metallurgy became popular because of its abundance and inexpensiveness.****-Iron was used to make iron plows, picks, spades, hoes, sickles, knives, and rakes, which were all used by peasants.****-The artisans, such as jewleres, jade workers, and embroiders, worked for the elite of the Chinese society and lived comfortably.****-Peasant farmers used tools made from bones or wood because bronze was too expensive.****-The early Chinese writing was composed of pictographs, instead of the traditional letters for phonetic use.**