SkillBuilder discussion Causes and consequences 1. Study SOURCE2 . What major rivers are shown on the map of ancient China, and how did they help the civilisation to grow? 2. Which regions on the map were most densely populated in ancient times? 3. How did the natural borders, like mountains or deserts, impact ancient China’s interactions with other civilisations? Civilisation in China developed around river valleys, which gave fertile land for farming. However, þoods could also destroy farms and villages. Chinese rulers were believed to have the mandate of heaven , meaning they were chosen by the gods. If a ruler failed to protect the people from disasters like þoods or wars, they could lose this mandate and be overthrown. Did you know? The name ‘China’ comes from the state of Qin. By 300 BCE, people in India and Central Asia knew about Qin. Today, Chinese people call their country Zhongguo , meaning ‘central states’. China’s earliest dynasties The ýrst proven dynasty was the Shang (1600–1046 BCE), which was often at war with its neighbours. The Zhou defeated them and started a new dynasty. The Zhou dynasty is split into the Western Zhou (1045–771 BCE) and Eastern Zhou (770–256 BCE). The Warring States period (475–221 BCE) The Eastern Zhou rulers had little power. Local lords controlled their own areas, and many wars happened between them. Stronger lords defeated weaker ones and took their land. In the end, only seven states — Qin, Han, Zhao, Wei, Ch’u, Yan and Qi — were left to ýght for control of northern China.
SOURCE3 Zhou dynasty China during the Warring States period, about 300 BCE
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YAN
ZHAO
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Yangtze
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Royal Zhou domain and lesser states
State capitals
Source: Map drawn by Spatial Vision.
TOPIC7 Ancient China 191
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