River Valley Civilizations and the Xia Dynasty

1. River Valley Civilizations and the Xia Dynasty Ancient China 5,000 BCE – 1,750 BCE

2. River Valley Civilizations How is the geography of India and China similar? Based on what you know about the Indus Valley Civilization (or the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilizations) what are characteristics you would expect to see in early Chinese civilization?

3. Yang Shao People Started around 5,000 BCE Found in 1928 Existed around the Huang He (Yellow) River Discovered 1921 by a Swedish Archaeologist—100 different sites so far Compounds with an orderly layout, surrounded by a ditch Stone/bone tools/pottery Subsistence agriculture and hunting

5. Longshan People Also along the Yellow River 3000 BCE Private Property Social Classes Advanced tools Advanced farming ‘Black Pottery Culture” Baked bricks Walled settlements Silk Production

7. Yu the Great No written language—comes from legend/poetry How much is true? Story goes: Great Flood—years and years Leader Shun told Gun to deal with the flood Tried dams to block the water/raise the river banks—doesn’t work Executed

8. Yu the Great Gun’s son Yu takes over his work Successful by digging channels and dredging Unites the people to help him Works for 13 years Passes home 3 times Shun makes Yu his heir

9. Legend? • Some stories of Yu include mythical characteristics • Yu is born from his father’s body • Yu gets a dragon’s help to dig the channels • Yu gets a black turtle’s help to re-route the water • Yu has ‘god-like’ powers • “Tames the Flood” Other times the story is presented without those features • Yu is very smart, hardworking, and taught people practical skills about flood control, irrigation, and agriculture • Yu is a model of loyalty and personal sacrifice

10. Xia Dynasty Yu becomes the founder of the Xia Dynasty 2200-1750 BCE For a long time—thought to be only legend that was written down in books 1500 years later Archaeologists have uncovered ruins that date to that time Similar characteristics to earlier river civilizations The rest? Who knows

11. Yellow River 6th longest River (5000 km) Changed major course 26 times in 2000 years Provides water for 12% of China’s population and 15% of its farmland

13. Why is it called the Yellow River? Loess Fine dirt that is washed into the River giving it the yellow color Provides fertile soil when deposited on the land Causes MAJOR problems too

14. River of Sorrow Silt builds up the river bedflooding 1500 floods in 2000 years Worst floods in history come from this river 1887 : 2 million deaths 1931: 4 million deaths 1928: 900,000 deaths Why? Ice breaks unleash massive amounts of water Silting causes the river bed to rise Mass population along the river Fertile farm land—hunger leads to death toll

16. “Whoever controls the Yellow River, controls China” • Every Dynasty has tried to deal with flood control • How? Canals, holding pools, dams, building of levees • Modern Times: • Rebuilt Levees • Silt Removing Dams • Resettlement to higher ground • Ready for a 100 year flood? Other Problems: • Pollution • Flow through coal producing areas • 4000 chemical plants on the river • 1/3 fish species extinct • 50% of river biologically dead • Sewage from massive cities • High cancer and disease rates • Overuse: Over grazing, deforestation, too much irrigation • 1972 Ran dry, 30 times since then Fix? South-North Water Transfer Project