PREHISTORY
OF
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THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PAST |
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·
From
villages to walled city states ·
From
patriarchal to patrimonial political control ·
From
medium of the spirit world to the “Son of Heaven” Neolithic Revolution (10,000-4000 BCE): the period in which groups of
hunter-gathers worldwide became food producers. XIA DYNASTY
(2205-1766 BCE?): the legendary first dynasty of SHANG DYNASTY (1766-1122 BCE): the first Chinese dynastic order found in the
archaeological record. patriarchal: leader rules area small enough so
that he rules it personally. patrimonial: area large enough so that ruler needs
assistance. lineage: a group of individuals, who can prove
that they are related by blood. clan: group that shares a surname and a
common ancestor. Oracle bones (jiaguwen甲骨文): tortoise shells and cow scapulae used in ancient
practices of divination. These bones include earliest examples of Chinese
writing, dating to the late Shang period (ca. 1200 BCE). |
THE
ZHOU DYNASTY
· Emergence of central ruling house &
system of Chinese feudalism. · New political institutions to curb the
ruler’s limitless authority. · Defining the interior and exterior of Chinese
“civilization.” ·
The
long, violent birth of the Chinese empire. |
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WESTERN ZHOU (c. 1027-771 BCE) Feudalism
(OED definition): “the system of polity… based on the relation of
superior and vassal arising out of the holding of lands in feud.” Feud
implies property granted through patronage. *Please note that European feudalism and Chinese feudalism were
not entirely the same (and Japanese feudalism was different still!) “Mandate of Heaven” (tianming): the Confucian notion that Heaven has
granted a ruler’s authority to govern, and that this right may be withdrawn
if that ruler proves to be incompetent or cruel. “Son of Heaven” (tianzi): title for the supreme leader of the Zhou
ruling house, beginning in the early Zhou period. "Central States" (zhongguo): a loose term for the separate kingdoms on the |