Chapter 3 -Birth of civilisations
Introduction
Culture- Groups of people living together and developing the same way of life (speaking the same language, eating the same kind of food, obey the same rules and laws and follow the same customs and traditions)
Civilisation- When the culture has developed over a long time and becomes very advanced
A civilisation usually starts in a place which has plenty of sunshine and rainfall, as those conditions make it suitable for farming. A civilisation also is usually close to a water source as:
· Rivers provided water for drinking and watering crops
· Rivers and seas provided fish, which was an important source of food
· The soil around rivers are usually fertile, and more crops can be grown
· Rivers and seas provide a way of transportation, which allowed trade, which is made easier than before
Kingdom- An area controlled by a king.
Empire- A much larger area controlled by an emperor, which is usually the most powerful king who managed to defeat his weaker rivals.
Indus Valley Civilisation
The remains of it was found near the Indus River, the civilisation started at around 3000 BC
Government- efficient, as the city was well-planned
Different Occupations- Indus people were mostly farmers who grew crops
Writing- Indus people had a writing system, as archeologist have found thousands of stone seals with writing on them
Decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation- Archeological evidence suggests that floods could have cost the decline of the Indus Valley Civilisations. As the floods would have also destroyed the irrigation systems which led to outbreaks of malaria, however, the decline was almost certainely speeded up by people called the Aryans which was during around 1500 BC-1200 BC
Arrival of the Aryans- The Aryan entered India in small bands during the decline of the Indus valley civillisation. They moved slowly into the valley of the Ganges river, and settled with the Indus people as grain farmers. The mixing of the Indus people and the Aryans was the beggining of the Indian culture that we know today.
China
The chinese civilisation first started in the valley of the yellow river, as the plains were fertile and suitable for farming. However, it is dangerous as it floods frequently.
Yangshao villages- The Yangshao villages started at 3000 BC, and from the excavations, it showed that they grew millet, kept pigs and dogs, hunted with bows and arrows, used tools made of stone and bone
Longshan villages - They were maore advanced than the Yangshao villages, and they lived in walled communities, grew rice and millet, raised cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs, made polished black pottery which was of very fine quality
Shang Civilisation
Government- The Shang civilisation was ruled by kings, which came from the same family line, forming a dynasty. The kings lived in the capital and controlled the surrounding villages and land.
Different occupations- People were mostly farmers, traders, priests and craftsman. The Shang craftsman made intricate bronze objects (weapons, wine cups, jars), and beautiful silk clothes and jade ornaments for the kings and their families.
Writing- The Shang Civilisation had a writing system/script which formed the basis of chinese writing today. The words had a strong resemblance to pictures, which makes it known as pictographic reading
Oracle Bones- They were used by priests to tell the future.
Fall of the Shang Dynasty :
- Last Shang King was killed 1150 BC
- The western Zhou dynasty took over (1027-771 BC)
- Around 771 BC, some people killed the Zhou king, his son moved his capital eastwards, and his dynasty was known as the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (771-221 BC)
- The last 232 years of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was known as the period of the warring states.
- In 221 BC, Qin Shihuang (a prince then), united the kingdoms, and fromed the first chinese empire under the Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)