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~2500 BC cities in Indus River (IR) valley
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~2000 BC cities in Huang Ho/Yellow River valley in
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Because of geography both were more cut off from other parts of the
world and did not trade.
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Both had to become more self-sufficient.
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Fewer remains have been found so less in known about these
civilizations.
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IR today in
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~2500 BC people called Harappans (Ha.) settled in IR valley.
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Ha. civilization was twice size of
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Land rich from IR annual floods and used IR for irrigation.
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Grew cotton, barley, wheat, peas, melons, dates, and fished.
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Ha. lived along raised areas of river banks.
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Bricks they used in buildings were stronger since were kiln baked
instead of sun dried.
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Both were planned communities (cities built with a definite plan).
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Had lots of 2 story buildings on perfect street grid.
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Each house had well and bathroom & drains to direct sewage away.
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Each city had a citadel (tall fortress) that was important building.
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Citadel in Mohenjo-dara was great bath
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Decline
of the Harappans
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Unknown why civilization declined, could have been due to over farming,
deforestation, floods, and/or invasion.
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By ~1700 BC
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By ~1200 BC group called the Aryans had taken over.
Evidence
of a Lost Civilization
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Little is known about Ha. civilization since no major tomb have been
discovered and writing has not been deciphered yet.
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Had more than one god and most gods were female.
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Ha. seals have shown some information.
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Much of information about civilization comes from legend since not much
found.
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Huang Ho valley was fertile land tat flooded every year.
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Huang Ho cut off from other groups due to mountains and oceans so
developed own culture.
Cities
of the Shang
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1st dynasty (ruling family) was called Shang and started in
1766 BC.
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Built 1st Chinese cities with palace at the center.
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City was where rich lived and most lived in countryside.
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Farmed millet, wheat, rice, raised cattle and produced silk.
Spirits,
Ancestors, and Kings
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Shang worshipped spirits (supernatural beings they believed lived in
natural things).
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Religion focused on pleasing spirits and having respect for ancestors.
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Families had rules on how they should behave to each other.
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Kings were the people with closest relationships with spirits so were
able to ask for important things like good harvests.
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Used cracks on oracle bones to try to speak with dead ancestors.
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Oracle bones show earliest Chinese writing.
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Lots of nobles who helped king run kingdom.
Decline
of the Shang
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Large gap between rich and poor caused problems since did not trust
each other and were not united.
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People called the Zhou invaded in 1122 BC and beat Shang.
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On of most impressive things the Shang left behind were bronze works.