world civilization history chinese civilization xia shang dynasty

Military strength played a crucial role in the stability and longevity of the Xia Dynasty.- The Xia Dynasty is traditionally considered the first dynasty in Chinese history.. The Xia Dyn

TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC KINH TẾ QUỐC DÂN Viện Đào tạo Tiên tiến, Chất lượng cao và POHE

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WORLD CIVILIZATION HISTORY: CHINESE CIVILIZATION – XIA &

SHANG DYNASTY PRESENT BY: GROUP 1

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TABLE OF CONTENT

A XIA DYNASTY

I Political Institution

II Military

1 Military Organization

2 Infantry

3 Chariots

4 Archers

5 Tactics and Strategy

6 Warfare and expansion

III Economic

1 Craftsmanship and Trade

2 Agriculture

3 Money

IV Culture

1 Architecture

2 Religion

3 Fashion

V Society

VI The fall of dynasty

B SHANG DYNASTY

I Political Institution

II Military

1 Military Organization

2 Infantry

3 Chariots

4 Archers

5 Tactics and Strategy

III Economic

1 Agriculture

2 Trade

3 Artisan craftsmanship

IV Culture

1 Writing

1.1 Traces of the earliest writing

1.2 The role of the writing

2 Musical instruments

3 Lunar Calendar

V Society

VI The fall of dynasty

A XIA DYNASTY

Xia dynasty, (ad 9–25), a short-lived dynasty in China formed by Wang Mang, whose usurpation

of power from the ruling Liu family constituted an interim in the Han dynasty succession and resulted in historians splitting the Han into the Xi (Western) Han (206 bc–ad 25) and the Dong

(Eastern) Han (ad 25–220) dynastic periods.

I Political Institution

- Political power and leadership were passed down within the privileged and noble family

- Specialized officers were assigned to oversee historical documentation, food, sacrifice and worship ceremonies, military activity, divination, astrology, law and judiciary, horse and chariot, tax, etc

- Under primogeniture and the Mandate to enforce justice on behalf of Heaven, Xia’s royal house not only extended direct rule over a vast territory but also induced other states as subservient vas-sals and imposed on them tributary responsibilities By bestowing his subservient lord’s ritual bronzes of Zhong yuan (he, gui, and jie) to mark their status and relationships with the King, a new feudal system of rank order and rites emerged It also helped to spread the principles of government by virtue and be a nation of rites and righteous-ness, key qualities of China’s civilization

1 Xia Dynasty 's Social Stratification Pyramid

II Military

7 Military Organization

- The Xia military was organized hierarchically, with the ruler at the top, followed by military commanders, officers, and soldiers

- Commanders were appointed based on loyalty and martial skill, often drawn from noble families or individuals with military prowess

8 Infantry

- Infantry formed the backbone of the Xia military

-were trained in close combat and formation-based warfare

9 Chariots

- Chariots were crucial for mobility and shock tactics on the battlefield They were manned

by skilled charioteers and armed with spears or bows

- Chariot warfare allowed for rapid maneuvers and devastating charges against enemy lines

10 Archers

- Archery played a significant role in Xia warfare Archers were highly trained in using composite bows made from wood, horn, and sinew

- Archery provided ranged support and cover fire for infantry and chariot units

11 Tactics and Strategy

- Xia military tactics emphasized coordination between infantry, chariots, and archers They employed strategies such as ambushes, encirclement, and feigned retreats to gain advantages over opponents

- Commanders relied on reconnaissance and intelligence gathering to assess enemy strengths and weaknesses

12 Warfare and expansion

- Warfare during the Xia Dynasty was primarily driven by territorial expansion, resource acquisition, and the consolidation of power

- Military campaigns were launched to subdue rival city-states, assert dominance over neighboring territories, and expand the Xia realm

Overall, the Xia military was characterized by its disciplined organization, reliance on bronze weapons, and innovative tactics Military strength played a crucial role in the stability and longevity of the Xia Dynasty.

III Economic

- The Xia Dynasty is traditionally considered the first dynasty in Chinese history The economic structure of the Xia Dynasty would have been characterized by agricultural activities, rudimentary trade, and possibly early forms of taxation and governance

4 Craftsmanship and Trade

- Xia Dynasty society would have likely seen the emergence of specialized craftspeople such as potters, weavers, metalworkers, and artisans

- Trade would have existed between different regions, exchanging goods such as pottery, textiles, metal tools, and possibly luxury items like jade

5 Agriculture

- Agriculture would have been the primary economic activity Ancient Chinese texts suggest that millet, wheat, barley, and rice were among the crops cultivated during this time The cultivation of these crops would have supported the population and possibly generated surpluses for trade

-Xia Dynasty was the first dynasty to know how to irrigate fields, turning water disasters into irrigation, contributing to the development of agriculture

6 Money

- Money of Xia dynasty has several different sayings Some believe that they used pearl, gold, and knife-shaped metal money There are also people believed that shell money was the main type of money

The Xia Dynasty's economy was considered a nomad-based economy There were large cattle herds in the grassland areas Most of the agricultural lands were owned by the state, meaning that no farmer owned their land.

4 Architecture

- Xia Dynasty architecture is poorly understood due to the lack of substantial

archaeological evidence However, some discoveries hint at the existence of advanced building techniques

- It's believed that cities during the Xia Dynasty were constructed with rammed earth walls and possibly wooden structures for palaces and residences

- The capital city, often associated with the legendary city of Erlitou, is said to have had impressive defensive walls and ceremonial structures

5 Religion

- Religion likely played a significant role in Xia society, as evidenced by later historical records and mythological texts

- Ancestor worship was probably a central feature of Xia religious beliefs, with reverence for deceased family members and clan ancestors

- Rituals and ceremonies to honor spirits and gods associated with natural forces, such as the sky, earth, and rivers, would have been common

6 Fashion

- Clothing during the Xia Dynasty would have been simple and practical, reflecting the agrarian lifestyle of the society

- Common attire for both men and women likely consisted of garments made from hemp or other natural fibers

- Elite individuals might have worn more ornate clothing made from silk or decorated with embroidery, reflecting their higher social status

- Jewelry made from jade, shells, or bone might have been worn as status symbols or for ceremonial purposes

- The Xia Dynasty marked a shift from tribal aristocracy to a national monarchy It transitioned from the "Great Harmony" to the "Small Harmony" era, where power shifted from the public to the court This change, symbolized by Emperor Yu's transition from

political development Rapid material production during the late Stone Age led to increased wealth and privilege among the aristocracy, causing internal conflicts and the eventual shift to a feudal monarchical system This shift brought about competition for power, clan conflicts, and military issues within the aristocracy

- This situation emerged during the Thuan Vu era, as reflected in Emperor Vu's decisions

to favor his son Some argued that Emperor Vu initially intended to pass the throne to Cao Dao due to his age, and then to Ic, but this decision was not well-received by the people In scholars' view during the Warring States period, Emperor Vu appeared to pass the throne to Ic publicly, but in reality, he allowed Khai to seize power

- The "Li Ji-Dan Gong Xia" text discussed how virtues elevated nobility, while wealth esteemed common people Before the Xia period, benevolent feudalism in the Thuan era saw monarchs pass power based on character However, during the Shang Dynasty, prosperity led to a focus on wealth accumulation The Xia Dynasty marked a shift from tribal to feudal society, where social status and inheritance were paramount This period, bridging the late Stone Age and Bronze Age saw advancements in production and societal changes

VI The fall of dynasty

- By around 1600 BC, the Xia had been overthrown by the tyrant Jie It was also the first widely-confirmed ruling dynasty in Chinese history, the Shang

- The Xia dynasty is traditionally considered the first dynasty in Chinese history, but there

is debate among historians about its existence and end

B SHANG DYNASTY

The Shang Dynasty is the earliest ruling dynasty of China to be established in recorded history, though other dynasties predated it The Shang ruled from 1600 to 1046 B.C and heralded the Bronze Age in China They were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and

military technology.

I Political Institution

- The Shang enacted a feudal system, a system in which duties are tied to land ownership, with sharp class divisions based on clan birthright The aristocracy were centered around Anyang, which was the seat of governmental affairs for the surrounding areas Regional territories farther from the capital were also controlled by the wealthy

- The emperor divided the empire into smaller kingdoms and had his relatives rule over these kingdoms to maintain power

- After the kings and the aristocrats, the Shang military were next in social status and were respected and honored for their skill There were two subdivisions of the military: the infantry, or foot soldiers, and the chariot warriors The latter were noted for their great skill in warfare and hunting

- There were many local rulers who held hereditary titles In this imperial system, elite classes benefited from the production of peasants and large-scale projects under elite control, usually operated using various forms of unfree labor

II Military

13 Military Organization

- The Shang military was organized under the authority of the king, who held supreme command over the armed forces

- Military commanders, officers, and soldiers formed a hierarchical structure, with commanders often drawn from the nobility

14 Infantry

- The infantry comprised the bulk of the Shang military

- Soldiers were equipped with bronze weapons such as swords, spears, and shields They were trained in close combat and formation-based warfare, often fighting in disciplined units

15 Chariots

- Chariots were a symbol of prestige and power during the Shang Dynasty They were used for mobility, shock tactics, and command and control on the battlefield

- Skilled charioteers manned these vehicles, which were armed with spears or bows

16 Archers

- Archery played a significant role in Shang warfare Archers were highly trained in using composite bows made from wood, horn, and sinew

- Archery provided ranged support and cover fire for infantry and chariot units

17 Tactics and Strategy

- Shang military tactics emphasized coordination between infantry, chariots, and archers They employed strategies such as ambushes, encirclement, and feigned retreats to gain advantages over opponents

-strengths and weaknesses

18 Warfare and expansion

- The Shang engaged in frequent warfare to expand their territory, subdue neighboring tribes, and defend against external threats

- Military campaigns were launched to control strategic regions, secure resources, and assert dominance over rival states

Overall, the Shang military was characterized by its disciplined organization, technological innovation (such as bronze weapons and chariots), and strategic prowess Military strength played a crucial role in the rise and stability of the Shang Dynasty.

III Economic

- Shang economy had three main pillars: trade, agriculture and artisanship The backbone

of the economy was agriculture, which was mixed with the Huang He or Yellow River, which provided nutrient-rich sediment (called loess) and a steady supply of water

4 Agriculture

- Farming also employed the largest segment of the population (peasants) Peasants were like tenant farmers for the kings, landowners, or nobles They also raised livestock such

as sheep, pigs, cattle, and horses

- The primary produce from the farms included cereals such as wheat, rice, barley, and millet as well as fruits and vegetables Landowners claimed most of the farm produce, leaving only the leftovers for the farmers

5 Trade

- Trade was the second pillar of the Shang economy

- Excavations of the ancient Shang dynastic period sites and tombs provide insights into the trade that must have occurred during this period

6 Artisan craftsmanship

- Three prominent classes of artisans: the Bronze workers, the architects, and the craftspeople

- Bronze workers were experts at making fine art, jewelry, tools, weapons, and armor for kings and noblemen to use

- In that period, Shang dynasty bronze workers had a monopoly on this expertise

IV Culture

1 Writing

1.1 Traces of the earliest writing

- The oldest surviving form of Chinese writing is found as inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals, called oracle bones; oracle, from a similar Latin root as the English word orator, means holy messenger or speaker

- The writing found on oracle bones shows complexity, indicating that this language had existed for a long time In fact, modern scholars are able to read it because the language

is very similar to the modern Chinese writing system

4.Piece of ox bone with Shang-era writing Writing is written vertically, like modern-day Chinese

writing, in a red color.

- Toward the end of the dynasty, this practice of divination—predicting the future—was reserved for the king alone As a result, oracle bones from this period give historians comparatively less insight into the lives and concerns of people in other classes

1.2 The role of the writing aspect

-recorded more accurately The Oracle Scripts are accounts of eclipses and other celestial events written by astronomers of the Shang period Shang astronomers’ works also showed advances in mathematics, the development of odd and even numbers, and principles of accounting

- The I-Ching—also known as The Book of Changes—was either written or compiled at this same time, around 1250 to 1150 BCE The I-Ching is a book of divination with roots going back to the fortune tellers of the rural areas and their oracle bones

2 Musical instruments

- Musical instruments were also developed by the Shang At Yin Xu, near Anyang, excavations have revealed instruments from the Shang period such as the ocarina—a wind instrument—drums, and cymbals

- Bells, chimes, and bone flutes have been discovered elsewhere

3 Lunar Calendar

- The Shang created a lunar calendar, based on the cycles of the moon, that was used to predict and record important events, especially planting and harvesting of crops

- Because lunar years are shorter than solar years, which are based on the Earth’s orbit of the sun, Shang kings employed specially-trained astronomers who made adjustments and maintained the precision of the calendar

The two fundamental characteristics of Shang Dynasty society are as follows:

- Initially, they followed a matrilineal system where the throne passed to the king's brother and mother upon his death, and later shifted to a patrilineal system, passing the throne to the son

- They practiced a polytheistic religion, worshiping gods of rivers, mountains, rain, wind, thunder, and especially a fertility god The highest deity was the Supreme Deity, depicted

as a human figure, creating humans and all things; followed by the Earth deity, depicted

as a woman, giving birth to and nurturing all living beings

- Fun fact: At the time, In order for the land to yield abundant crops and ensure a successful harvest season, people perform rituals including human and animal sacrifices during each ceremony Excavations at An Dương since 1950 have demonstrated that a significant number of people were sacrificed, especially during the burial of the kings In one tomb, over 300 sets of human bones were unearthed, some intact while others had their heads severed These bones could belong to the queen, concubines, royal courtiers, guards, charioteers, and some generals as well This practice persisted for a long time, until the Han Dynasty era, and was replaced by burying figurines made of bamboo, large statues resembling real people made of stone, wood, or fired clay, and finally, small clay figurines and paper gold items (symbolic gold objects) burned during the funerals The tradition of burning these symbolic items still exists today in various East Asian countries