In ancient China some 4000 years ago, floods were frequent in areas along the Yellow River. It was Yu the Great who finally tamed the floods. Emperor Shun abdicated the throne to the Great Yu because of his contribution in taming the floods.

During the reign of Emperor Yao, wild floods often brought down houses, destroyed crops and forced people to move to higher mountain tops. A man named Ji was appointed to tame the flood. He tried to tame the flood by building dams to block the roaring water. Nine years passed and the floods problem became even severe. Yao's successor Shun had Ji killed because of his unsuccessful job, and ordered Ji's son, Yu to tame the water.

Yu took a totally different approach to tackle the flood problem. He led people to build cannels to guide the waters of the Yellow river into the sea. During the process, Yu toiled alongside the people, digging cannels and carrying away the soils. He was so busy he left his newly wedded wife alone at home and didn't enter his home when he passed by his own house, not even when he heard the loud cry of his new born son.
 After 30 years of hard work, floods were finally curbed. Because of his outstanding contribution in taming the floods, he was given the name Yu the Great. Later, emperor Shun abdicated the throne to Yu because of his work. 

He also had his aid compiled the Records of Mountains and Rivers, a book detailing for the first time the rivers and mountains, birds and trees and important events of ancient China.

During his reign, Yu continued to be a diligent leader. He guided his people to develop the agriculture and the state began to take on a new look.

At the end of the tribal society, slavery began to appear as some people began to make prisoners of tribal wars their slaves. These people later became nobles. A slave class and Noble class began taking shape. Later, Yu's son Qi was made emperor, succeeding Yu, thus the abdication system was deserted and hereditary system took its stead. The first slave society, the Xia Dynasty came into being.