November 6, 2016
The Hwang -Ho or the Yellow River civilization in China (3500-3000 BC)
The history of the human race covers the entire
period since man first appeared on earth. By about 4000 BC the accumulated knowledge
and skills of the preceding thousands of years, combined with new discoveries
of metals enabled man to live in urban societies. The emergence of this stage
was a revolution in human history known as the metal age revolution. It led to
the emergence of the first civilizations which are known as River Valley Civilizations. Such river valley
civilizations were noted for the effective use of metal implements for
Cultivation, weapons and domestic use.
The Bronze Age civilizations which flourished in
different parts of the world between 5000 BC and 500 BC were
1. The Indus Valley civilization or the Harappan culture (3250 to 2750 BC)
2. The Tigris - Euphrates
civilization of Mesopotamia, the modern Iraq (3500 BC to
1000 BC)
3. The Nile Valley Civilization in Egypt (4000-500BC)
4. The Hwang -Ho or the Yellow River civilization in China (3500-3000 BC)
The early Chinese Civilization or The
Hwang-Ho Valley Civilization
The Hwang-Ho is known as Yellow river
because it brings the Yellow alluvial soil and deposits it on its banks. The
civilization represents the largest unbroken chain of development known to
humanity. The role of rivers Hwang- Ho, and Yang-tze Kiang are significant in
shaping the culture, civilization and History of China. The Hwang-Ho is called
sorrow of China as its annual floods cause widespread destruction of both
possessions and to agriculture. The geography and topography of China caused
the civilization to develop in isolation. The Chinese people belonged to the
Mongol race. They have yellow complexion, short, oblique eyes, snubbed nose and
black hair.
Political History of Ancient China
Fu Xi was the first known king. The
Shang dynasty (1766-1122.BC) unified the territories of Yellow river. The
succeeding Chou dynasty and its ruler Wu-Wang introduced many reforms and the
Chou Age is known as the classical Age of China. After the decline of Chou
Dynasty China became disunited and feudal lords reigned supreme. Hence this age
is known as feudal age. Shi - Huang -Ti who belonged to Chin dynasty, put an
end to the feudal control. He is remembered in history as the builder of the
great wall of China. The Chinese honoured the teachings of great philosophers
named Confucius, and Lao tze.
Socio- Economic Condition