Ancient River Valley Civilisation: China

Important aspects of the social life in ancient China were:

1. The king or emperor was both the secular and religious head of society.
2. Society was hierarchical: Under the king or emperor were the nobles and merchants, craftspeople and farmers, then slaves in the descending order.
3. The army was important, with warrior-nobles holding high status.
4. Families were close-knit; elders and ancestors were deeply respected.
5. Multiple families lived together in groups called clans.

The religious beliefs of the early Chinese were:

1. Early Chinese people worshipped the high god Di (Shangdi), believed to control rain, wind, and thunder.
2. They also worshipped ancestors and natural forces like the Yellow River and the Sun.
3. The king or emperor was seen as Di’s descendant and served as the high priest.
4. Oracle bones, inscribed with texts, were used for divination.
5. Royal tombs show valuable objects buried with royals, likely for use in the afterlife.

The Great Wall of China was built for defense against northern invaders. Spanning over 20,000 km, it had watchtowers to store weapons, house troops, and send smoke signals, forming ancient China’s northern boundary.

The ancient Chinese created paper from mulberry and other fibres, fishnets, old rags and hemp waste.

Two scientific developments of the Chinese Civilisation are:

1. The Chinese introduced block printing with carved wooden blocks. The blocks were dipped in ink and pressed on paper.
2. The first known seismograph to record earthquakes was made in China.

Shang and Zhou

pottery.

There was a belief that these objects were meant for use in the afterlife.

ancient Chinese musical instruments.

block printing, seismograph, paper

(a) The picture depicts a mariner's compass.

(b) It was used for navigation. The spoon shaped lodestone would align with Earth's magnetic field, pointing south. Sailors used it to determine direction while traveling across land and seas.

(c) The invention of compass brought the people of the world closer in the following ways:

1. Facilitated Exploration: Enabled safer and longer sea voyages, helping sailors reach distant lands.
2. Boosted Trade: Helped establish and maintain trade routes like the Silk Road and maritime trade networks.
3. Cultural Exchange: Allowed ideas, religions, inventions, and goods to move between regions, connecting various civilizations together.