Early Chinese History: Shang and Zhou Dynasties

What are the typical social classes in the Shang Dynasty?

King -> Military aristocracy -> Peasants.

What dynasty did the Shang Dynasty overthrow?

The Xia Dynasty.

Where was the Shang Dynasty settled, and what geographical feature protected it?

Settled at the Yellow River, isolated and protected by the Himalayan mountains.

What were the key aspects of Shang Dynasty culture?

Ancestor worship, polytheistic culture, glorification of the king, and use of divination through rituals like oracle bones.

What was seen as a noble possession in the Shang Dynasty?

Bronze.

What was the primary economic practice of the Shang Dynasty?

Agriculture.

How did trade expand during the Shang Dynasty?

Through traveling up and down rivers and nomads traveling from city to city.

What technological advancement did the Shang Dynasty utilize?

Bronze technology for expanding their kingdom and capturing prisoners of war.

What is the dynastic cycle in China?

1. A new dynasty emerges. 2. Emperor improves the government. 3. Lives are improved. 4. Problems begin (war, invasion). 5. Taxes increase, leading to poor quality of life. 6. Government spending and corruption. 7. Drought, flood, famines. 8. Rebellion occurs. 9. Rebels find a strong leader. 10. Emperor is defeated.

What significant philosophical ideas emerged during the Zhou Dynasty?

Mandate of Heaven, Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism.

What is the Mandate of Heaven?

The belief that rulers are given the divine right to rule by heaven, justifying supreme power.

What does Legalism assert about human nature?

That people are evil by heart and only obey under the law, establishing stricter order.

What is the core belief of Confucianism?

That every human has a role/duty, summarized by the motto 'don't do to others what they would not do to you.'

Who founded Confucianism and what role did it play in the Han Dynasty?

Founded by Confucius; became the official state ideology and influenced the civil service exam.

What is Neo-Confucianism?

A blend of Confucianism with metaphysical elements that emerged during the Song Dynasty.

What does Daoism/Taoism emphasize?

Following the natural path or Dao of life and avoiding violence.

Who is the founder of Daoism?

Laozi (Lao isu).

What does the concept of Yin and Yang represent?

The belief in positive and negative energies of life; one complements the other and they cannot exist without each other.

What associations are made with Yin and Yang?

Male (Yang) is associated with the sun, light, and activeness; Female (Yin) is associated with the moon, darkness, and passiveness.