Early Dynasties - Xia, Shang and ZhouThis is a featured page

    Click on the red links for more information about each of these dynasties. After reading the pages about each dynasty, list in bullets the important points from each dynasty.

    • Xia ca. 2100-1800 B.C.
      • Almost no historic evidence => limited knowledge on dynasty
      • The Xia dynasty had weapons and pottery made out of bronze
      • Rulers acted as shamans (a communicator with spirits for guidance)
      • Also considered as a legendary dynasty
      • The Xia Dynasty is considered the first dynasty of China.
      • The ruling families did rituals to confirm their power to govern.
    • Shang 1700-1027 B.C.
      • There isn't very much evidence on the Shang dynasty either but archaelogists were able to learn about the Shang dynasty through their discovery of buried human bones. The skeletons found had their skulls seperated from their bodies, evidence that showed the skeletons in the mass burial tombs were from people that were sacrificed. They performed human sacrifice to be granted wisdom from their gods and ancestors.
      • The Shang dynasty used oracle bones to predict the future. The oracle bones were mosty animal bones or turtle shells. Characters would be inscribed into the bones, which were heated until they cracked, and the shamans predicted the future by studying the cracks.
      • The Shang Dynasty was much larger than the Xia dynasty and was also located right by the yellow river. it was the central water resource for agriculture and civilization in Ancient China.
      • there was no system of justice so there were harsh punishments which made everyday life in the Shang dynasty very hard.
      • The king of the Shang dynasty mourned the death of his favorite wife, and soon became addicted to alcohol. After this, life for the Chinese people became much harder.
    • Zhou 1027-221 B.C.
      • Longest-lasting dynasty!!!!
      • Created the first system of justice to protect people's rights.
      • Unlike the Shang, the Zhou dynasty sacrificed bronze statues of people instead of humans.
      • During the Zhou dynasty much more land was used. The land owned stretched to the Yangtze so the Chinese had control over parts of the Yangtze and the Yellow River.
      • Towards the end of the dynasty, the emperors started to lose his power. The power was distributed to among several warring states. Wealthy landowners became warlords and built their own armies and declared war on his neighbors. This period of fighting was called "The Warring States Period."
      • During the last 250 years of the Zhou dynasty (Warring States Period), 7 states fought for control of the country. The Qin state emerged victorious.
      • Zhou dynasty ended once the Warring States period ended.



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    chord0 poetry of Sung dynasty 0 Oct 14 2007, 3:26 PM EDT by chord0
    Thread started: Oct 14 2007, 3:26 PM EDT  Watch
    hello
    I am also a member of an msn group called bookaholics, and found there many poems translated to English by many chinese poets, some from Sung dynasty, deals with a battle of Red Cliff, thought this might of interest to some literature lovers.
    2  out of 5 found this valuable. Do you?    
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