Vocabulary
planned communities
citadel
dynasty
spirits
ancestors
oracle bones
nobles
Notes
About 2500 BC a group named the Harappans settled in the Indus River valley.
The Indus River is located in southern Asia.
The Indus River made the soil rich for farming.
When river flooding occurred, it destroyed everything in the flooded area.
The Harappans needed to learn to control the river so that it would not destroy their homes.
They built dikes, dams, and created raised mounds on which they built their cities.
The Harappans created two cities known to be twin capitals.
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were planned communities.
The buildings in the city were built along a planned street grid.
Every building had its own well, bathroom, and drainage system.
Each city also had a citadel that was built on a mound.
Citadels were surrounded by brick walls.
Inside the citadel was a granary.
The walls of the granary contained holes so that the grain stayed dry and unspoiled.
It is uncertain as to why the Harappan civilization ended.
There are three theories as to the civilization�s end:
� The Harappans used up their natural resources by overfarming.
� Floods overtook cities and farms when the Harappans cut down too many trees for their ovens.
� The Indus River valley was invaded by Aryans.
Little is known about the Harappan civilization.
Harappan writing has not been able to be deciphered.
We do know:
� The Harappans had many gods which were mostly female.
� Ruins and artifacts have been found in Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
� Harappan soapstone seals have been found in Sumer. (The Harappans traded with Sumerians.)
About 2000 BC, a civilization began in the Huang Ho valley in northern China located in eastern Asia.
The people of early China most likely settled in the Huang Ho valley because of its rich soil.
The Shang dynasty came to power in 1760 BC.
They built the first cities in China.
Rich people lived in the cities.
Poor people lived in the country.
The poor made their living as farmers.
Silk was one of the products produced by farmers.
Silk was used to make clothing for the rich.
The Shang worshipped spirits.
They believed that they must please the spirits in order to have a productive and happy life.
The Shang believed that ancestors also influenced their life.
They made offerings to the ancestors such as food, wine, and prayers.
Shang kings believed that their wisdom came from their ancestors and their power came from the spirits of nature.
Kings prayed to the spirits to make the harvests plentiful.
Kings also contacted ancestors for advice.
The kings scratched questions on oracle bones which were heated producing cracks on the bones.
These cracks were then interpreted for the ancestor�s response.
During Shang rule the rich and poor had little interaction.
This eventually led to a weakened kingdom and an invasion by the Zhou in 1122 BC.
The Shang left behind some of the world�s best bronze works.