China

China Early China & Xia Dynasty: 10,000 BC to 1500 BC Daily Life in Very Early China Chinese civilization started around 10,000 BC, when a group called the Yangshao (yahng show) settled near the Huang He River. Archaeologists have uncovered many Yangshao villages in northern China. In one village, they found the remains of farmhouses, built partly underground, with plaster floors, and roofs held up with wooden posts. About 3,000 BC, another farming group appeared, the Lungshan people. The Lungshan were very advanced for their time. They harvested silk, and used it to weave fine fabrics. They used the potters wheel. They baked strong bricks in ovens, and used them to build their homes. They worked together on flood control and irrigation projects. They had great engineering skills. Legend has it that their "Great Engineer", Yu, founded the Xia (sometimes called the Hsia) Dynasty in about 2,000 BC. There are no written records. Our knowledge of their life comes from ruins of their town, ancient stories and legends. This story tells us quite a bit about ancient life in Xia times. Daily Life during the Shang & Chou Dynasties About 1700 B.C. to 250 B.C. These two ruling families controlled much of times, very, people, about, city, t'ang, made, life, homes, one, nobles, china, lived, rich, each, ancient, han, bronze, bc, wore, silk, food, family, dynasty, worked, shang, cities, much, long, land, important, farmers, called, built, peasants, over, little, during, ate, ancestors, worship, walls, together, simple, popular, merchants, gods, enjoyed, day