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The Birth of China - Hunters on the Yellow River (20000 BCE to 7000 BCE)

The Histocrat・37 minutes read

Beijing, with over 20 million residents today, has been China's capital for centuries, connected to the imperial system that lasted over two millennia until the Qing Dynasty's collapse in the late 19th century. The archaeological record reveals the emergence of China's first complex societies, with pottery and evidence of early plant cultivation and animal domestication during the Paleolithic period in various regions of China.

Insights

  • The imperial system in China, rooted in the Mandate of Heaven, lasted for over two millennia until its collapse with the Qing Dynasty in the late 19th century, ultimately leading to the end of imperial rule and the abdication of the last emperor following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911.
  • The archaeological record in China reveals the emergence of complex societies, with early pottery use indicating shifts in subsistence strategies towards more permanent settlements, increased agriculture, and a broader diet, contradicting earlier theories linking pottery solely to farming communities and suggesting unintentional plant cultivation by Paleolithic hunter-gatherers.

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Recent questions

  • What is the significance of the imperial system in China?

    The imperial system in China, based on the Mandate of Heaven, lasted over two millennia and was associated with iconic structures like the Summer Palace and Forbidden City. It played a crucial role in shaping China's ancient history, with emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties residing in these grand palaces. The collapse of the Qing Dynasty in the late 19th century marked the end of imperial rule, following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 which led to the abdication of the last emperor. Despite attempts to restore the Qing monarchy, the imperial system ultimately came to an end, leaving a lasting legacy on China's historical and cultural landscape.

  • How did pottery play a role in ancient Chinese societies?

    Pottery in ancient Chinese societies served various purposes, from cooking simple foodstuffs like fish and mollusks to possibly processing animal remains for extraction of fatty grease and marrow. The pottery shards found at different sites varied in thickness and composition, some featuring decorative cord marks and tempered with charcoal and sand. The use of pottery was not limited to practical functions but also had social significance, as seen in pottery found at Hutto Liang in northern China, suggesting special occasion use rather than daily utility. The invention of pottery by mobile hunter-gatherer communities contradicted earlier theories linking it solely to early farming communities, showcasing the diverse roles pottery played in ancient Chinese societies.

  • How did early plant cultivation begin in Paleolithic China?

    Early plant cultivation in Paleolithic China likely began unintentionally, with hunter-gatherers replanting seeds with preferred traits. Evidence of possible plant cultivation can be seen in remains of wild rice and sickle blades, indicating a transition towards intentional cultivation practices. The earliest evidence of domesticated millet found at Nanchuangto, dating back to 9500-9000 BCE, suggests a long period of domestication at various sites. This shift towards plant cultivation, along with the domestication of animals like dogs, marked a significant change in subsistence strategies during the final stages of the Paleolithic in China, leading to more permanent settlements and a broader diet of hunting and gathering.

  • What were the key features of early Paleolithic communities in China?

    Early Paleolithic communities in China utilized a variety of tools, including stone choppers, flint tools, bone, stone, and antler tools, along with polished shells for cutting. The discovery of pottery dating back to 18,000-17,000 BCE in Southern and Central China revealed simple containers made from clay and tempered with quartz, fired at low temperatures. These communities also used grindstones for grinding acorns, beans, tubers, and wild grass seeds to make rough flour for basic foodstuffs. The transition towards more permanent settlements, increased use of pottery, and a diverse diet of hunting and gathering marked significant changes in subsistence strategies during the final stages of the Paleolithic in China.

  • What led to the end of the imperial rule in China?

    The end of imperial rule in China was precipitated by the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in the late 19th century, following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 which led to the abdication of the last emperor. Despite attempts to restore the Qing monarchy, the imperial system ultimately came to an end. The imperial system, based on the Mandate of Heaven and associated with iconic structures like the Summer Palace and Forbidden City, had lasted over two millennia. The fall of the Qing Dynasty marked a significant turning point in Chinese history, signaling the end of centuries-old imperial rule and paving the way for new political systems and ideologies in China.

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Summary

00:00

"Beijing: China's Ancient Imperial Capital"

  • Beijing has been China's capital for centuries, with over 20 million residents today.
  • The Ming and Qing dynasties saw emperors residing in the Summer Palace and Forbidden City.
  • The imperial system, based on the Mandate of Heaven, lasted over two millennia.
  • The Qing Dynasty's collapse in the late 19th century led to the end of the imperial system.
  • The Xinhai Revolution in 1911 resulted in the abdication of the last emperor.
  • Attempts to restore the Qing monarchy failed, leading to the end of the imperial rule.
  • China's ancient history is often associated with its imperial rulers and iconic structures.
  • The imperial system's origins date back to the late 3rd century BCE.
  • The archaeological record reveals the emergence of China's first complex societies.
  • The rise of China's first rulers culminated in the establishment of the Qin dynasty.

18:33

Early Pottery Use in Paleolithic China

  • Grinding Sipes and hand stones found at the site were used to grind acorns, beans, tubers, and wild grass seeds to make rough flour for simple foodstuffs.
  • Grasses ground at the site may have included wild ancestors of foxtail and broomcorn millets, major foodstuffs for agricultural communities along the Yellow River Basin.
  • Similar grindstones found at Long Wang Chang and Shia Chuan may have been used as crude sickles to reap wild grass seeds.
  • Late Paleolithic hunter-gatherers in northern China used stone choppers, flint tools, bone, stone, and antler tools, along with polished shells for cutting.
  • Pottery in Southern and Central China, dating back to 18,000-17,000 BCE, consisted of simple containers made from clay and tempered with quartz, fired at low temperatures.
  • Pottery shards at various sites varied in thickness and composition, with some tempered with charcoal and sand, featuring decorative cord marks.
  • Pottery was also found in northern China at Hutto Liang, suggesting a social role or special occasion use rather than daily utility.
  • Pottery was used for cooking simple foodstuffs like fish, shellfish, and mollusks, and possibly in processing animal remains for fatty grease and marrow extraction.
  • Pottery was initially invented by mobile hunter-gatherer communities, contradicting earlier theories linking pottery to early farming communities.
  • Changes in subsistence strategies during the final stages of the Paleolithic in China included more permanent settlements, increased use of pottery, and a broad spectrum diet of hunting and gathering.

36:28

Early Plant and Animal Domestication in China

  • Early plant cultivation likely began unintentionally with hunter-gatherers replanting seeds with preferred traits.
  • Evidence of possible plant cultivation in Paleolithic communities seen in remains of wild rice and sickle blades.
  • Earliest evidence of domesticated millet found at Nanchuangto, radiocarbon dated to 9500-9000 BCE.
  • Morphological changes in millet grains suggest a long period of domestication at various sites.
  • Earliest evidence for animal domestication in China found at Nanchuangto, possibly an early domesticated dog.
  • Signs of domestication and sedentary life observed in Central and Southern China during the Paleolithic.
  • Shangshan site discovered in Eastern Shoshang Province, considered China's first village with large dwelling places.
  • Shangshan residents likely followed a collect and subsistence strategy, hunting wild animals and consuming nuts and grasses.
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