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China

Geography The Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and Pacific Ocean are east of China China was isolated by many natural barriers The Takimakan desert is in western China Himalayas to the southwest 2/3 of China is made up of mountains 10% farmland Gobi desert and Mongolian Plateau to the north Yellow River and Chang Jiang flow through China Silt called loess deposited from the rivers

Environmental Challenges Huang He flood could be disastrous No trade with outsiders due to natural barriers Not completely protected by natural barriers.

Culture Thought outsiders were barbarious Called their land the "Middle Kingdom" Family important - Most important virtue - respect for parents. Elder men made decisions in family Women were inferior Between 13 and 16 - marriage was arranged.

Religion Mandate of Heaven - they believed that a just ruler had divine approval A bad ruler could lose the Mandate of Heaven Spirits of family ancestors had the power to bring good fortune of disaster to living members of the family. Shang kings consult gods with oracle bones, which they write question on and burn to interpret answers.

Government Shang dynasty 1700-1027 B.C. Zhou adopted much of Shang culture Dynastic cycle - dynasties thrive and are considered to have the mandate of heaven, then they decline, then a new dynasty takes over.

Lifestyle Social classes - sharply divided between Nobles and Peasents. A ruling class of warrior-nobles headed by a king.

Technology Elaborate palaces and tombs Huge walls surrounding cities Horse-drawn chariots for war

Tim period People could have lived there as long as 500,000 years ago.

Feudalism A king would provide land to nobles in return for military service and loyalty