658-665 U8 CH23 S1 TWIP-860976 3/17/04 10:23 PM Page 658 C … · 2015. 2. 6. · China and Its Neighbors andIts C h a p t e r 17 To learn more about the people and places of China,

Chinaand ItsNeighbors

Chinaand ItsNeighbors

Chapter

1717

To learn more about the people andplaces of China, view The Worldand Its People Chapter 24 video.

492

Chapter Overview Visit The World and ItsPeople Web site at twip.glencoe.com and

to preview information about China.

Social StudiesSocial StudiesSocial StudiesSocial Studies

click on Chapter 17—Chapter Overviews

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http://twip.glencoe.com

Fold a triangle.Cut off the extra

edge.

The foldswill form an X

that creates fourequal sections.

Step 1 Fold the paper from the top rightcorner down so the edges line up. Cut offthe leftover piece.

Step 2 Fold the triangle in half. Unfold.

Step 3 Cut up one fold line and stop atthe middle. This forms two triangular flaps.

Part of the Great Wall of China

▼

Part of the Great Wall of China

▼

Taiwa

n

China

Mongolia

Step 4 Draw an X on one tab and labelthe other three the following: Mongolia;China; Taiwan.

Mongolia

Taiwa

n

This makes a three-sidedpyramid.

Step 5 Fold the X flap under the otherflap and glue together.

Identifying Main Ideas Make this foldable to help you identify keyfacts about the people and places of China and its neighbors.

Reading and Writing As you read the chapter, write main ideasinside the foldable under each appropriate pyramid wall.

Opening Doors Built to keep out foreigners, the

Great Wall of China is the country’sbest-known structure. For centuries,China has worked to protect its cul-ture from outside influences. Recently,however, the need to develop itseconomy has motivated China tobegin opening its doors to tradewith other countries. In addition,Beijing—the capital of China—waschosen in 2001 to host the 2008Summer Olympics.

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China (officially called the People’s Republic of China) lies in thecentral part of eastern Asia. It is the third-largest country in area, afterRussia and Canada. China is just slightly larger than the United States.

China’s LandscapeThe map on the next page shows the many landforms that are

within China’s vast area. Rugged mountains cover about one-third of the country. Find the Himalaya, Kunlun Shan, Tian Shan, andAltay Mountains on the map.

Also located in China is the world’s largest plateau. This high, flatland, commonly called the “Roof of the World,” is really the Plateau ofTibet. Its height averages about 14,800 feet (4,500 m) above sea level.Scattered shrubs and grasses cover the plateau’s harsh landscape.Pandas, golden monkeys, and other rare animals roam the thick forestsfound at the eastern end of this plateau.

494 CHAPTER 17

11 China’s Land andNew Economy

Landformsof China

Mountains Deserts

Rivers Plains

Guide to Reading

Main Idea

China—the third-largestcountry in the world—has very diverselandforms. China’srapidly growingeconomy has changedin recent years.

Terms to Know

• dike • fault • communist state • consumer goods

Reading Strategy

Create a diagram likethis one. Then list twofacts under eachheading in the outerovals.

Giant pandas look cute and cuddly,

but actually they are

somewhat hot-tempered.

You would be hot-tempered

as well, if your habitat

were dwindling in size.

Fewer than 1,000 pan-

das live in the wild, and

about 140 live in zoos.

The wild pandas make

their home on the east-

ern edge of the Plateau

of Tibet. They eat mainly

bamboo stems and leaves.

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495

In addition to very high elevations, western China has someextremely low areas.The Turpan Depression,east of the Tian Shan, liesabout 505 feet (154 m) below sea level. It is partly filled with salt lakes.It also is the hottest area of China. Daytime temperatures can reach ashigh as 122ºF (50ºC).

In northwestern China,mountain ranges circle desert areas.One ofthese areas is the Taklimakan Desert—an isolated region with veryhigh temperatures. Sandstorms here can last for days and create huge,drifting sand dunes. Farther east lies another desert, the Gobi. Abouttwice the size of Texas, the Gobi has rocks and stones instead of sand.

The map below shows that eastern China has plains along theYellow, East China, and South China Seas. About 90 percent of China’speople live on these fertile plains.Rich in minerals,eastern China is thesite of the largest urban manufacturing areas, including Beijing andShanghai. In hilly areas, farmers grow crops on terraced fields.Northern China holds many natural resources as well. China is a worldleader in mining coal and iron ore. Tourists visit southeastern China tosee its scenic waterfalls and steep gorges.

90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E80°E70°E50°N

40°N

TROPIC OF CAN

CER

30°N

20°N South China Sea

EastChina

Sea

YellowSea

Tai

wan

Stra

it

Seaof

Japan(East Sea)

M

ekongR

.

Amur R.

Yang

tze R.

Xi R.

Salween R.

Tarim R.

Brahmaputra R.

Yello

wR

.

Liao R.

Songhua R.

Yangtze R. Gongga Shan

24,790 ft.(7,556 m)

K2 28,250 ft.(8,611 m)

Mt. Everest29,035 ft.(8,850 m)

ManchurianPlain

North ChinaPlain

Liaodong Peninsula

LeizhouPeninsula

ShandongPeninsula

Hainan

G OB

I

TIAN SHAN

Takl imakanDesert

Plateauof Tibet

ALTAY

MOUNTAINS

QILIAN SHANKUNLUN SHAN

H

IM

AL A Y A

R U S S I A

MONGO L I A

C H I N A

TAIWANA S I A

Two-Point Equidistant projection400

4000 mi.

0 km

N

S

EW

Macau Hong Kong

Shanghai

Taipei

Beijing

Ulaanbaatar

National capital

Major city

i 6

China and Its Neighbors: Physical/Political

Mountain peak

Feet10,0005,0002,0001,000

0

Meters3,0001,5006003000

Elevations

Applying Map Skills

1. What rivers begin in thehigh elevations ofsouthwest China?

2. What seas border China?

Find NGS online map resources @www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

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http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

496 CHAPTER 17

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2002.

0

200

160

120

80

40Mil

lio

ns

of

tons

(per

year)

BangladeshVietnamChina

IndiaIndonesia

Leading Rice-Producing Countries

Analyzingthe Graph

Visit twip.glencoe.com andclick on Textbook Updates.

Rivers Three of China’s major waterways—the Yangtze (YANG•SEE), Yellow, and Xi (SHEE) Rivers—flow through the plains andsouthern highlands.They serve as important transportation routes andalso as a source of soil. How? For centuries, these rivers have floodedtheir banks in the spring. The floodwaters have deposited rich soil toform flat river basins that can be farmed. China’s most productivefarmland is found in valleys formed by these major rivers.

Despite their benefits, the rivers of China have also broughtmuch suffering. The Chinese call the Yellow River “China’s sorrow.”In the past, its flooding cost hundreds of thousands of lives andcaused much damage. Floods in July and August 1998 killed at least3,000 and caused an estimated $20 billion in damage. To help con-trol floods, the Chinese have built dams and dikes, or high banks of soil, along the rivers. Turn to page to learn more about theThree Gorges Dam, a project that is underway on the Yangtze River.

An Unsteady Land In addition to floods, people in eastern Chinaface another danger—earthquakes. Their part of the country stretchesalong the Ring of Fire, a name that describes Pacific coastal areas withvolcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Eastern China lies along a fault,or crack in the earth’s crust. As a result, earthquakes in this region arecommon—and can be very violent. Because so many people live ineastern China, these earthquakes can be disastrous.

What problem does China have with its large rivers?


Web Activity VisitThe World and ItsPeople Web site attwip.glencoe.com andclick on Student WebActivities to learnmore about China’srivers.

The most importantfood crop in Asia is rice.

Economics How manymillions of tons of ricedoes China produce in a year?

Chapter 17—

Chapter 17—

499

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China and Its Neighbors 497

A New EconomySince 1949, China has been a

communist state in which thegovernment has strong controlover the economy and society as awhole. This means that govern-ment officials—not individuals orbusinesses—decide what crops togrow, what products to make, andwhat prices to charge. China dis-covered that the communist sys-tem created many problems.China fell behind other countriesin technology, and manufacturedgoods were of poor quality.

In recent years, China’s leadershave begun many changes to makethe economy stronger. Withoutcompletely giving up communism,the government has allowed manyfeatures of a free enterprise systemto take hold. Under this system, thegovernment allows individuals tochoose what jobs they want andwhere to start their own busi-nesses. Workers can keep the prof-its they make. Farmers can growand sell what they wish.

As a result of these and other changes, China’s economy hasboomed. Factories produce textiles, chemicals, electronic equipment,airplanes, ships, and machinery.Many of the items you own were prob-ably made in China. Farm output has also risen rapidly. Because ofmountains and deserts, only 10 percent of China’s land is able to befarmed. Yet China is now a world leader in producing various agricul-tural products, including rice, tea, wheat, and potatoes.

Foreign Trade Eager to learn about new business methods, Chinahas asked other countries to invest in,or put money into,Chinese busi-nesses. Many companies in China are now jointly owned by Chineseand foreign businesspeople. Foreign companies expect two benefitsfrom investing in China. First, they can pay Chinese workers less thanthey pay workers in their own countries. Second, companies in Chinahave hundreds of millions of possible customers for their goods.

Results of Growth Because of economic growth, more of China’speople are able to get jobs in manufacturing and service industries.Wages have increased, and more goods are available to buy. SomeChinese now enjoy a higher standard of living. They can affordconsumer goods, or products people buy for themselves, such as

On Location

Ancient andModern

••

In China’s rural areas,ancient farming meth-ods are still used(above left). However,in industrialized cities,high technology isbeing developed(above).

Government Howhas the governmentaffected the economyin China?

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AssessmentAssessment11

televisions, cars, and motorcycles. Not everyone has adjusted well tothe new economy, however. Many Chinese find that prices have risenfaster than their incomes. Some Chinese have become very rich, whileothers remain poor.

China’s economic growth has also harmed the environment. Manyfactories dump poisonous chemicals into rivers. Others burn coal,which gives off smoke that pollutes the air.This pollution leads to lungdisease, which is the number one cause of death in China.

Hong Kong and Macau The cities of Hong Kong and Macau(muh•KOW) are an important part of the economic changes takingplace in China. Both of these cities were once controlled by Europeancountries—Hong Kong by the United Kingdom, and Macau byPortugal. China regained control of Hong Kong in 1997 and of Macauin 1999.Both are centers of manufacturing, trade, and finance.Chineseleaders hope that the successful businesses in these cities will helpspur economic growth in the rest of the country.

At the same time, foreign companies that are considering investingin these cities must ask themselves whether China will stand by its“one country, two systems” pledge. The pledge refers to China’s prom-ise to allow Western freedoms and capitalism to exist side by side withChinese communism. The Time Reports: Focus on World Issues onpages takes a look at the economies and political freedoms ofChina and other countries in East Asia.

To what does “one country, two systems” refer?

498

Labor CostsThere’s a good chance

your clothes and shoes were

manufactured in China. Some

American companies can

manufacture their products

at much lower costs in China

because the wages paid to

workers there are low by U.S.

standards. These companies

pay more and offer better

working conditions than

Chinese employers. Still, some

Americans are concerned

about exploiting Chinese

workers to make higher

profits for U.S. companies.

Defining Terms 1. Define dike, fault, communist state, consumer

goods.

Recalling Facts 2. Place Name China’s two large deserts.

3. Region What two very important functions do China’s rivers perform?

4. Economics What has caused China’s economy to boom?

Critical Thinking 5. Summarizing Information How are China’s

rivers both a blessing and a disaster?

6. Making Comparisons How is a commu-nist economic system different from a freeenterprise system?

7. Analyzing Information What benefits doesChina receive from foreign investments?

Graphic Organizer 8. Organizing Information Create a diagram

like this one. In the proper places on the oval, fill in the physical features you wouldencounter if you traveled completely aroundChina.

China

Applying Social Studies Skills

9. Analyzing Maps Look at the map on page .What is the capital of China?

505–511

495

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The Three Gorges Dam

ARTART SCIENCESCIENCE CULTURECULTURE TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

+ This is the city of Fengdu today (top) andas it will look when the dam and reservoirare completed (bottom).

499

Since 1919, Chinese officials have dreamedof building a dam across the Yangtze, thethird-longest river in the world. Curvingthrough the heart of China, the river pro-vides an important highway for moving peo-ple and products from town to town. Yet theYangtze is unpredictable. For thousands ofyears, floods have harmed the millions ofpeople who live along its banks. Now con-struction is under way to build the dam.

The Dam

In 1994 the Chinese government began a 17-year-long project to build the Three GorgesDam. It will eventually be 1.5 miles (2.4 km)wide and more than 600 feet (183 m) high. Thedam is being built about halfway between thecities of Chongqing and Wuhan. (See the map onpage .) The dam will benefit China in severalways. First, it will control water flow and stopfloods. Second, its system of locks will allow largeships to travel inland. This will reduce trade andtransportation costs for the millions of peoplewho live inland. Third, the dam will create elec-tricity using turbines, or water-driven engines.

Controversy

Even with all the proposed benefits, manypeople within China and elsewhere have ques-tioned the wisdom of building the dam. Whencompleted, the dam will create a deep reservoirnearly 400 miles (644 km) long. This reservoirwill flood more than 100 towns and force nearly1.2 million people to move. Many of these peoplemust leave the farms that their families haveworked for centuries. Historians point out thatthe reservoir will also wash away more than1,000 important historical sites, including thehomeland of the first people to settle the regionabout 4,000 years ago.

Environmentalists caution that the dam maycreate pollution and health risks. Industrial sites,once they lie underwater, may leak hazardouschemicals. Sewage from communities surround-ing the dam could flow directly into the reservoirand into the Yangtze River. In the past, this prob-lem was less serious because the fast-movingwaters of the Yangtze carried waste quickly out to sea.

1. How have the unpredictable waters of the YangtzeRiver affected the Chinese?

2. Create a physical map of China showing the majorrivers. Mark where the Three Gorges Dam is beingbuilt.

3. Interpreting Points of View List three reasonsin support of constructing the Three Gorges Damand three reasons against it.

502

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China’s population of 1.29 billion is about one-fifth of the world’speople. About 92 percent of these people belong to the ethnic groupcalled Han Chinese. They have a distinctive culture. The remaining 8 percent belong to 55 other ethnic groups.Most of these groups,suchas the Tibetans, live in the western part of China. They have struggledto protect their traditions from Han Chinese influences.

China’s HistoryChina’s civilization is more than 4,000 years old. For many cen-

turies until the early 1900s, rulers known as emperors or empressesgoverned China.Many lived in the Imperial Palace, located in the heartof Beijing, China’s capital. A dynasty, or line of rulers from a singlefamily, would hold power until it was overthrown. Then a new leaderwould start a new dynasty. Under the dynasties, China built a highlydeveloped culture and conquered neighboring lands.

500 CHAPTER 17

2 Dynasties toCommunism

2Guide to Reading

Main Idea

The arts and ideas ofancient times stillinfluence China today.

Terms to Know

• dynasty• human rights• exile• calligraphy• pagoda

Reading Strategy

Create a chart like thisone. Then list two keyfacts in the rightcolumn for each itemin the left column.

China

History

Government

Urban and Rural Life

Arts

How do you celebrate the coming of

a new year? This costumed

figure lives in Tibet. He is

a Buddhist monk, or holy

man, performing an

important ritual cele-

brating the Tibetan

New Year. The

mask and colorful

robes show that

he plays a

special role in rituals

designed to defeat the

forces of evil.

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As their civilization developed, the Chinese tried to keep out for-eign invaders. In many ways, this was easy.On most of China’s borders,natural barriers such as seas, mountains, and deserts already providedprotection. Still, invaders threatened from the north. To defend thisarea, the Chinese began building the Great Wall of China about 2,200years ago. Over the centuries, the wall was continually rebuilt andlengthened. In time, it snaked more than 4,000 miles (6,437 km) fromthe Yellow Sea in the east to the deserts of the west. It still stands today.

Beliefs and Inventions Chinese thinkers believed that learningwas a key to good behavior. About 500 B.C., a thinker named Kongfuzi(KOONG•FOO•DZUH), or Confucius, taught that people should bepolite, honest, brave, and wise. Children were to obey their parents,and every person was to respect the elderly and obey the country’srulers. Kongfuzi’s teachings shaped China’s government and societyuntil the early 1900s.

During Kongfuzi’s time,another thinker named Laozi (LOW•DZUH)arose. His teachings, called Daoism (DOW•IH•zuhm), stated that peo-ple should live simply and in harmony with nature. While Kongfuzi’sideas appealed to government leaders, Laozi’s beliefs attracted artistsand writers.

Buddhism came to China from Central Asia about A.D.100.This reli-gion taught that meditation, wisdom, and morality could help peoplefind relief from life’s problems. Over time, the Chinese mixedBuddhism, Daoism, and the ideas of Kongfuzi. This mixed spiritual her-itage still influences many Chinese people today.

The early Chinese were inventors as well as thinkers. Did youknow that they were using paper and ink before people in other partsof the world? Other Chinese inventions include silk, the magneticcompass, printed books, gunpowder, and fireworks. For hundreds ofyears, China was the most advanced civilization in the world.

Communist China Foreign influences increasingly entered Chinaduring the 1700s and 1800s. Europeans especially wanted to get fineChinese goods such as silk, tea, and pottery. The United Kingdom andother countries used military power to force China to trade.

In 1911 a Chinese uprising under the Western-educated Dr. SunYat-sen overthrew the last emperor. China became a republic, or acountry governed by elected leaders. Disorder followed until theNationalist political party took over. The Communist Party gainedpower as well. After World War II, the Nationalists and theCommunists fought for control of China. General Chiang Kai-shek(jee•AHNG KY•SHEHK) led the Nationalists. Mao Zedong (MOWDZUH•DOONG) led the Communists.

In 1949 the Communists won and set up the People’s Republic of China under Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai ( JOH ehn•LY). TheNationalists fled to the offshore island of Taiwan. There they set up arival government.

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

Clay WarriorsOne of the most fasci-

nating archaeological findsin China was the clay army buried to guard thetomb of China’s firstemperor. The huge vault,covering 20 square miles(52 sq. km), was discov-ered in 1974. The claywarriors stand in four sep-arate underground pits. Inpit one are 6,000 life-sizefigures in military forma-tion. Pit two contains1,400 chariots and men.The third pit has an elitecommand force, and thefourth pit is empty, possi-bly abandoned before thework was completed. Eachof the nearly 7,500 footsoldiers, horsemen, archers,and chariot riders were indi-vidually crafted more than2,200 years ago.

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668 CHAPTER 23

China’s Government and SocietyAfter 1949 the Communists completely changed the mainland of

China. All land and factories were taken over by the government.Farmers were organized onto large government farms, and womenjoined the industrial workforce.Dams and improved agricultural meth-ods brought some economic benefits. Yet many government planswent wrong, and individual freedoms were lost. Many people werekilled because they opposed communism.

After Mao Zedong died in 1976, a new Communist leader, DengXiaoping (DUHNG SYOW•PING), decided to take a new direction.He wanted to make China a more open country. One way to do thiswas to give people more economic freedom. The government kepttight control over all political activities, however. It continued to denyindividual freedoms and acted harshly against any Chinese who criti-cized its actions. In 1989 about 100,000 students and workers gath-ered in Beijing’s Tiananmen (TEE•EHN•AHN•MEHN) Square. Thestudents and workers called for democracy and demanded politicalreforms in China. The government answered by sending tanks andtroops. These government forces killed or injured thousands of pro-testers and arrested thousands more.

90°E 100°E 110°E 120°E 130°E 140°E 150°E80°E

50°N

40°N

30°N

20°N

TROPIC OF C

ANCER

South China Sea

EastChina

Sea

YellowSea

PACIFIC OCEAN

R U S S I A

MONGO L I A

C H I N A

TAIWAN

T I B E T

SOUTHASIA

SOUTHEASTASIA

Yellow

R.

Yello

wR

.

Yan

gtze R.

Macau

Haikou

Nanning

Ulaanbaatar

Ür¨umqi

Lanzhou

Baotou

Lhasa

Fuzhou

Harbin

Shenyang

Beijing

Tianjin

Dairen

QingdaoJinan

ZhengzhouXi’an

Chengdu

Chongqing

GuiyangKunming

Changsha

Guangzhou

Shanghai

Nanchang

Nanjing

HangzhouWuhan

Hong Kong

Taipei


4000 mi.

0 km

N

S

EW

China and Its Neighbors: Population Density

CitiesCity with more than5,000,000 people

City with 1,000,000 to5,000,000 people

City with 500,000 to1,000,000 people

Sq. KmSq. Mi.Persons per

Uninhabited

Under 1

1–25

25–50

50–100

Over 100

Uninhabited

Under 2

2–60

60–125

125–250

Over 250

Applying Map Skills

1. Which cities in Chinahave more than 5 millionpeople?

2. What is the populationdensity of most of Taiwan?

Find NGS online map resources @www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

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http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps


Countries around the world haveprotested the Chinese government’scontinued harsh treatment of peoplewho criticize it. They say thatChinese leaders have no respect forhuman rights. These are the basicfreedoms and rights, such as freedomof speech, that all people shouldenjoy. Because of China’s actions,some people say that other countriesshould not trade with China.

China’s leaders have also beencriticized for their actions in Tibet.Tibet was once a separate Buddhistkingdom. China took control of thearea in 1950 and crushed a rebellionthere about nine years later. TheTibetan people have demanded inde-pendence since then. The Dalai Lama (DAH•ly LAH•muh), theBuddhist leader of Tibet, now lives in exile in India. Someone in exileis unable to live in his or her own country because of political beliefs.The Dalai Lama travels around the world trying to win support for hispeople.

Rural Life About 63 percent of China’s people live in rural areas.The map on page shows that most Chinese are crowded into thefertile river valleys of eastern China. Families work hard in their fields.They often use hand tools because mechanical equipment is tooexpensive.

Village life has improved in recent years. Most rural families nowlive in three- or four-room houses. They have enough food and somemodern appliances. Many villages have community centers. Peoplegather there to watch movies and play table tennis and basketball.

Urban Life More than 503 million Chinese people live in cities.China’s cities are growing rapidly as people leave farms hoping to findbetter-paying jobs. Living conditions in the cities are crowded, butmost homes and apartments have heat, electricity, and running water.Many people now earn enough money to buy extra clothes and tele-visions. They also have more leisure time to attend concerts orChinese operas, walk in parks, or visit zoos.

Why have people in other countries criticized China’s government?

China’s CultureChina is famous for its traditional arts. Chinese craft workers make

bronze bowls, jade jewelry, decorated silk, glazed pottery, and fineporcelain. The Chinese are also known for their painting, sculpture,and architecture.

On Location

Urban Life

Hundreds of thou-sands of people usebicycles—not cars—toget around Beijingand other cities.

Place About howmany people live inChina’s cities?

•

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504


The Chinese love of nature has influenced painting and poetry.Chinese artists paint on long panels of paper or silk. Artwork oftenshows scenes of mountains, rivers, and forests. Artists attempt to por-tray the harmony between people and nature.

Many Chinese paintings include a poem written in calligraphy,which is the art of beautiful writing. Chinese writing is different fromthe print you are reading right now. It uses characters that representwords or ideas instead of letters that represent sounds.There are morethan 50,000 Chinese characters, but the average person recognizesonly about 4,000 to 5,000.

The Chinese developed bronze casting and the first porcelain cen-turies ago.Porcelain is made from coal dust and fine,white clay.Paintedporcelain vases from early China are considered to be priceless today.

Most buildings in China’s cities are modern. Yet traditional build-ings still stand.Some have large, tiled roofs with edges that curve grace-fully upward. Others are Buddhist temples with many-storied towerscalled pagodas. These buildings hold large statues of the Buddha.

Foods Cooking differs greatly from region to region in China. Incoastal areas, people enjoy fish, crab, and shrimp dishes. Central Chinais famous for its spicy dishes made with hot peppers. A typicalChinese meal includes vegetables with bits of meat or seafood, soup,and rice or noodles. Often the meat and vegetables are cooked quicklyin a small amount of oil over very high heat. This method—called stir-frying—allows the vegetables to stay crunchy.

Where would you find statues of Buddha in China?

h Bronze vessel from theShang dynasty

h Porcelain bowl from theMing dynasty

Defining Terms1. Define dynasty, human rights, exile, calligraphy,

pagoda.

Recalling Facts2. History Name two thinkers who influenced

life in China.

3. History Who led the Nationalists after WorldWar II? Who led the Communists after WorldWar II? Who won control of China?

4. Culture What scenes are commonlyfound in Chinese paintings?

Critical Thinking5. Making Predictions How might the

teachings of Kongfuzi prevent rebellions inChina?

6. Summarizing Information Why didEuropeans want to force China to trade withthem?

Graphic Organizer7. Organizing Information Create a time line

like this one. Then list at least five dates andtheir events in China’s history.


8. Analyzing Maps Look at the population den-sity map on page . How does the populationdensity in western China differ from easternChina?

502

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FOCUS ON

WORLDISSUES

FOCUS ON

WORLDISSUES

GLA

DE

MIC

HA

EL/C

OR

BIS

SYG

MA

REN

E BU

RR

I/MA

GN

UM

PH

OTO

S

A South KoreanRunning for Office

A Chinese SoldierUnable to Vote

A South KoreanRunning for Office

A Chinese SoldierUnable to Vote

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ang Kil-Ok made a terrifyingjourney in 1997. In the deadof night, she fled from North

Korea to China over the frozen TumenRiver. North Korean border guards shotat her and missed. “Somehow,” Kang saidlater, “we made it to the other side.”

In recent years more than 300,000brave North Koreans have escaped toChina. These people felt they had nochoice. North Korea is one of the world’smost brutal dictatorships. Its citizenshave very few rights. The nation’s Com-munist government assigns citizens jobsand places to live. It tells those who runfarms and factories what and how much

to produce. It jails and even executespeople who refuse to follow orders. Theresult is a nation whose people mustface many hardships. There are short-ages of just about everything: fuel, fer-tilizer, electricity, food, and medicine.

During the 1990s, a severe foodshortage left as many as two millionNorth Koreans dead. The United Statesand other nations sent millions of dol-lars of food aid into the country. Thegovernment, however, distributed mostof it to North Korea’s 1.2 million soldiersand the families of top officials.

Kang left North Korea after hermother died. Kang’s brother had

already gone to China. When hedisappeared, police beat theirmother to get her to tell themwhere he went. “My mother’sknees were so badly bruised, shecouldn’t even stand up,” Kangsaid. “They kicked her with bootsand whacked her with sticks. Itmade me realize I had to leaveNorth Korea, too.” Her motherdied three months later.

Most of those who flee NorthKorea have a common goal. Theyhope to stay in China long enoughto find a way to South Korea, oneof Asia’s most modern, democraticnations.

North Korea’s Freedom House Score:Not Free. Political Rights: 7. Civil Liberties: 7.

Escape From Horror

FOCUS ON

WORLDISSUES

FOCUS ON

WORLDISSUES

North Koreans at Pyongyang, their nation’s capital.North Korean generals dedicate a new statue.

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North Koreans at Pyongyang, their nation’s capital.North Korean generals dedicate a new statue.

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Who’s Free, Who’s Not in East Asia

Making ComparisonsHow many countries are there in East Asia? How many are not free?Which country borders China? Is it free or not free?


n China, Kang lived in constantfear. The Chinese send escapeesthey capture back to North Korea.

Those sent home are tossed into jail,tortured, and sometimes executed.

Like North Korea, China is not a freecountry. Citizens can’t vote to choose

their leaders. They have few basic rights.Communist Party leaders make all theimportant decisions. Thousands of peo-ple are in jail today simply because theydared to criticize the government.

In one important way, China is freerthan North Korea. It lets people runtheir own businesses. For 30 years, thegovernment ran all the nation’s enter-prises, from farms to restaurants. Butthe farms barely produced enough tofeed the nation of 1.3 billion people.China’s factories at that time producedpoorly-made goods.

During the late 1970s, the governmentlet its citizens own businesses and farmtheir own plots of land. The chance to earngood pay in private business has given the Chinese a reason to work harder.Today only the United States producesmore goods and services than China.

After four years in China, Kang foundout that her brother was in South Korea.He sent her the money to pay people tosmuggle her out of China. In June 2001,she landed at the airport outside Seoul,South Korea’s capital.

China’s Freedom House Score: Not Free.Political Rights: 7. Civil Liberties: 6.

China: A Nation on the Move

507

A busy street in Beijing,China’s capital

Shanghai, China, is home to many new businesses.

Chinese shoppers in aShanghai department store

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What Is a Democracy?A democracy is a government in which

the final authority rests with the nation’speople. Voters elect representatives whocarry out the people’s wishes.

Democracies are not all the same. Allgrant their people political rights. Theyhold free elections and allow political par-ties to compete for votes. Stronger democ-racies also protect the civil liberties, orfreedoms, of every citizen.

The U.S. government is the secondtype. An organization called FreedomHouse gives it top grades for its defenseof liberty and political rights. FreedomHouse is a private, not-for-profit organ-ization based in Washington, D.C. It haspromoted democratic values aroundthe world since the 1940s.

Every year Freedom House decideshow well the world’s nations aredefending the rights and freedoms oftheir citizens. Then it gives each nationtwo grades: one for political rights, onefor civil liberties. The scores range from1 (best) to 7 (worst). You will find the2003 scores for East Asian nations atthe end of each article in this report.

A busy street in Beijing,China’s capital

Shanghai, China, is home to many new businesses.

Chinese shoppers in aShanghai department store

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Exploring the Issue

1. Cause and Effect Why did Kang leave North Korea?

2. Making Inferences China has 1.3 billion citizens. How might this have helped Kang stay there for four years?


508

South Korea: The Feel of Freedomor Kang, South Korea seemedlike another planet. Only elevennations produce more goods

and services than South Korea. One ofthose nations is China, whose populationis 27 times larger than South Korea’s.

On average, each South Korean pro-duces 20 times more than each NorthKorean. South Korea boasts the largestautomobile factory in the world. Thesame factory builds trains that cruise at180 miles an hour (300 km/h). Seoul is adazzling mix of skyscrapers and neon—signs of the nation’s success.

Politically, South Korea is far differ-ent from North Korea and China. Itsfive major political parties and severalsmaller ones battle for votes in fair elec-tions. About 70 percent of the nation’s

eligible voters take part. In the UnitedStates, that figure is closer to 50 percent.

Getting used to a society that allowsso much competition is hard for NorthKoreans. “We are so used to living withwhat we are given,” said Byung, who

escaped from North Korea with hiswife, mother, and two small sons.Byung won’t reveal his last name.He is afraid that the North Koreangovernment will punish those ofhis relatives who remain behind.“We don’t understand that it is upto us to find and hold a job. Thebiggest surprise is that everyone isfree here to say what they want.”

Kang agrees. “I know what free-dom feels like here,” she said.

South Korea isn’t a perfectdemocracy, though. Its officialssometimes accept money inexchange for making decisionsthat benefit individuals or busi-

nesses. The government often arrestspeople suspected of being Communists.But overall, South Korea is one of Asia’sstrongest democracies.

South Korea’s Freedom House Score:Free. Political Rights: 1. Civil Liberties: 2.

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Seoul, South Korea’s capital, pulses with life.It is an exciting symbol of the nation’s success.

▲

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Exploring the Issue

1. Explaining How is South Korea differentfrom North Korea and China politically?

2. Analyzing What does Kang mean when she says she knows what freedomfeels like?


509

Taiwan: YoungTiger

Japan: ShiningDemocracy

Business people like these keepJapan’s economy strong.

E A S T A S I A : R E P O R T C A R D O N D E M O C R A C Y

Business people like these keepJapan’s economy strong.

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The mayor of Taipei, Taiwan’scapital, celebrates his reelection.The mayor of Taipei, Taiwan’scapital, celebrates his reelection.

aiwan is an island province ofChina. Its citizens like to viewit as a separate country, however,

because it has been on its own since1949. Politically, Taiwan boasts fourmajor parties and many smaller ones.Citizens vote for their leaders in openelections. Some politicians have beenarrested for “buying” votes.

Like South Korea, Taiwan is called an“Asian Tiger” because of its powerfuleconomy. Private businesses drive theeconomy. Money earned from exportsand imports fuels it.

Independent courts protect the rightsof the Taiwanese. However, womenand minorities often face discrimina-tion on the job. Journalists must becareful about what they say. Manyobservers are impressed that the Tai-wanese enjoy so many freedoms. This isbecause Taiwan didn’t hold its first freepresidential election until 1996.

Taiwan’s Freedom House Score:Free. Political Rights: 2. Civil Liberties: 2.

apan is one of the world’s great-est success stories. Its economyis the world’s third strongest, after

those of the United States and China.

Japan’s experiment with democracybegan in 1947, soon after its defeat inWorld War II. At the time, Japan’semperor held most of the power. In1947 a new constitution transferred that power to the people. The emperorbecame a figurehead, a ceremonial leaderwithout much power.

As in Taiwan, women and minoritygroup members often feel like second-class citizens. But Japan’s courts do allthey can to protect citizens’ rights.

Japan’s Freedom House Score: Free.Political Rights: 1. Civil Liberties: 2.

1.

2.

Exploring the Issue

1. Evaluating Information How can you tellthat Taiwan and Japan are ruled by law?

2. Analyzing Information What makesTaiwan’s and Japan’s democracies alike?


510

Promoting Democracy:What Can One Person Do?

ccording to Freedom House,there are more democraciestoday than at any time in his-

tory. Still, more than 2 billion peopledon’t live in democratic nations. Theyare denied the right to vote and toenjoy the sort of freedoms thatAmericans take for granted.

This is an issue that concerns peopleeverywhere. In 2002 representatives ofmore than 100 democracies met inSeoul, South Korea. They discussedways to spread democracy. One solu-tion they came up with had to do withschools. They agreed to try to persuadedeveloping nations to teach civics, orcourses about democracy.

This approach has been successfulbefore. After World War II, schools inGermany and Japan, the two defeatedpowers, began to teach civics courses.Today those two nations enjoy themany benefits of freedom.

What can you do to help promotecivics courses abroad? You can write toyour representative in Congress. Explainwhy you think the U.S. governmentshould help other nations develop suchcourses. Send the letter to your localnewspaper, too.

Another way you can help spreaddemocracy is to work with groups suchas Amnesty International. Dozens ofsuch groups are trying to make democ-racy catch on throughout the world.When they discover a government

abusing its citizens’ rights, these groupssay so. Amnesty International gets itsthousands of supporters to write lettersto the government’s top leader. One let-ter won’t change the world. But thou-sands of them remind leaders who actirresponsibly that the world is watch-ing. To see how such campaigns work,go to Amnesty International’s Web page,www.amnestyusa.org. Click on “Act Now!”

“What you do may seem terriblyinsignificant,” Mohandas Gandhi said,“but it is terribly important that you doit anyway.” Gandhi knew what he wastalking about. He led the campaign thatwon India its independence in 1947.

In prosperous East Asia, cell phonesare everywhere.

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Exploring the Issue1. Finding the Main Idea Come up

with a title that will tell readers whatthis article is about.

2. Compare and Contrast This article suggests two ways to spreaddemocracy. How are they alike? Howare they different?


E A S T A S I A : R E P O R T C A R D O N D E M O C R A C Y

R E V I E W A N D A S S E S SR E V I E W A N D A S S E S S

511

1950 1960s 1980s

1986

1987

20001949Communists take over China. Two million non-Communist Chinese flock to the island of Taiwan.

The army controls Taiwan, allowing only one political party.

1950sLand is sold to small farmers.

Businesses make TVs, textiles, and other goods for export.

1970sThe government requires schooling for everyone. The economy grows rapidly.

The economy is the second strongest in Asia.

New political parties are allowed.

Military rule is lifted.

Taiwan has its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to theDemocratic Progressive Party.

1949 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

FOR UPDATES ON WORLD ISSUES GO TO

www.timeclassroom.com/glencoe

FOR UPDATES ON WORLD ISSUES GO TO

www.timeclassroom.com/glencoe

Taiwan: From Dictatorship to DemocracyHow one “Asian Tiger” went from military rule to free elections

Building time line skills

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE1. Defining Key Terms

Write the definitionsfor the following terms:democracy, politicalrights, civil liberties,escapee, constitution, figurehead, civics.

2. Writing to Inform Imagine youare a North Korean and havejust escaped to China. Write a letter to a friend and explainwhy you left North Korea.

3. Writing to PersuadeIn a brief essay, explain whatthe Chinese people would gain if their country were ademocracy.

INTERNET RESEARCH ACTIVITY4. The Internet is changing poli-

tics throughout Asia. In SouthKorea, online newspapers likeOhmyNews can sway elections.OhmyNews posts hundreds of

stories every day. Ordinary citizens write most of them. Go to www.ohmynews.com.Click around and study the pictures. What do the picturessuggest about the subjectsSouth Koreans seem mostinterested in? Make a list andcompare it with those of yourclassmates.

5. In China, millions of peoplehave access to the Internet.China’s courts have jailed people who use the Internet tocriticize the government. Typein the key words “China” and“Internet” on an Internetsearch engine to find out why China’s government both likes and fears theInternet. Write a shortessay with your answers.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

6. Visit your school or locallibrary to learn more about

democracy in East Asia. Working in three groups,learn what it was like to live inTaiwan, South Korea, or Japanbefore these lands becamedemocratic. Discuss your findings with your classmates.

7. Research a former Communistnation in Europe. What problems did that nation face while reinventing itself as a democracy? Write your findings in a short report.

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▲ In Tokyo, teens like to wear “street clothes.”

1. Analyzing Data How many yearsdoes this time line cover? What major changes took placeduring that time?

2. Making Inferences Which camefirst in Taiwan, economic growthor democracy? Why wasn’t itthe other way around?


http://www.timeclassroom.com/glencoe

512 CHAPTER 17

3 China’s Neighbors3

Taiwan Mongolia

Taiwan is an island close to China’s mainland, and Mongolia bordersChina on the north. Throughout their histories, Taiwan and Mongoliahave had close ties to their larger neighbor.

TaiwanAbout 100 miles (161 km) off the southeastern coast of China lies

the island country of Taiwan. It is slightly smaller than the states ofConnecticut and Massachusetts put together. Through Taiwan’s cen-ter runs a ridge of steep, forested mountains. On the east, the moun-tains descend to a rocky coastline. On the west, they fall away to anarrow, fertile plain. This flat area is home to the majority of theisland’s people. Like southeastern China, Taiwan has mild winters andhot, rainy summers.

Taiwan’s Economy Taiwan has one of the world’s most prosper-ous economies. Taiwan’s wealth comes largely from high-technologyindustries, manufacturing, and trade with other countries. High-technology industries produce computers and other kinds of

Guide to Reading

Main Idea

Taiwan and Mongoliahave been influencedby Chinese ways andtraditions.

Terms to Know

• high-technologyindustry

• steppe• nomad• empire• yurt

Reading Strategy

Create a diagram likethis one. Then writestatements that aretrue of each countryunder their headings inthe outer ovals. Wherethe ovals overlap, writestatements that aretrue of both countries.

In the remote, harsh land

of western Mongolia, a

centuries-old tradition

continues. Hunters train

eagles to bring their kill

back to the human

hunter. The people say

that female eagles

make the best hunters.

Because they weigh

more than males, they

can capture larger prey.

Like all eagles, they have

superb vision—eight times

better than a human’s.

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electronic equipment. Workers in Taiwan’s factories make many dif-ferent products, including computers, calculators, radios, televisions,and telephones. You have probably seen goods from Taiwan sold instores in your community.

Taiwan has a growing economic influence on its Asian neighbors.Many powerful companies based in Taiwan have recently built facto-ries in the People’s Republic of China and Thailand.Despite their polit-ical differences, Taiwan and mainland China have strengthened theireconomic ties since the 1990s.

Agriculture also contributes to Taiwan’s economy. The island’smountainous landscape limits the amount of land that can be farmed.Still, some farmers have built terraces on mountainsides to grow rice.Other major crops include sugarcane, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes,pineapples, tea, and soybeans. In fact, Taiwan’s farmers produceenough food to feed their own people and also enough to export.

Taiwan’s History and People For centuries, Taiwan was part ofChina’s empire. Then in 1895, Japan took the island after defeatingChina in war. The Japanese developed the economy of Taiwan buttreated the people very harshly. After Japan’s loss in World War II,Taiwan was returned to China.

In 1949 the Nationalists under ChiangKai-shek arrived in Taiwan from theChinese mainland. Along with them camemore than 1.5 million refugees fleeingCommunist rule. Fearing a Communistinvasion, the Nationalists kept a large armyin the hope of someday retaking the main-land. They also blocked other politicalgroups from sharing in the government.

By the early 1990s, local Taiwanesewere allowed more opportunities in gov-ernment.The one-party system ended,andTaiwan became a democracy.Taiwan is stillofficially part of China, but many peoplewould like to declare Taiwan indepen-dent. China claims Taiwan as its twenty-third province and believes that it shouldbe under China’s control.China has threat-ened to use force against Taiwan if theisland declares its independence.

About 75 percent of Taiwan’s 22.6 million people live in urbanareas. The most populous city—with 2.6 million people—is the capi-tal, Taipei. This bustling center of trade and commerce has tall sky-scrapers and modern stores. If you stroll through the city,however,youwill see Chinese traditions. Buddhist temples, for example, still reflecttraditional Chinese architecture.

Why is Taiwan’s economy one of the world’s strongest?

On Location

Taiwan•

Many electronicindustries have head-quarters in Taiwan.

Place What kinds ofproducts do high-technology factories inTaiwan produce?

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514 CHAPTER 17

MongoliaLandlocked Mongolia is a coun-

try about the size of Alaska. Ruggedmountains and high plateaus rise inthe west and central regions. Thebleak landscape of the Gobi spreadsover the southeast. The rest of thecountry is covered by steppes,which are dry treeless plains oftenfound on the edges of a desert.

Known as the Land of the Blue Sky,Mongolia boasts more than 260 days ofsunshine per year. Yet its climate hasextremes. Rainfall is scarce, and fiercedust storms sometimes sweep acrossthe landscape. It is very hot in thesummer. In the winter, temperaturesfall below freezing at night.

For centuries, most of Mongolia’speople were nomads. Nomads arepeople who move from place to placewith herds of animals. Even today,many Mongolians tend sheep, goats,cattle, or camels on the country’s vaststeppes. Important industries inMongolia use products from these ani-mals. Some factories use wool tomake textiles and clothing.Others usethe hides of cattle to make leather andshoes. Some farmers grow wheat andother grains. Mongolia also hasdeposits of copper and gold.

Mongolia’s History and People Mongolia’s people arefamous for their skills in raising and riding horses. In the past,they also were known as fierce fighters. In the 1200s, manygroups of Mongols joined together under one leader, GenghisKhan ( JEHNG•guhs KAHN). He led Mongol armies on a seriesof conquests. The Mongols eventually carved out the largest

land empire in history, ruling 80 percent of Eurasia by A.D. 1300. Anempire is a collection of different territories under one ruler. TheMongol Empire stretched from China all the way to eastern Europe.

During the 1300s, the Mongol Empire weakened and fell apart.China ruled the area that is now Mongolia from the 1700s to the early1900s. In 1924 Mongolia gained independence and created a strictCommunist government under the guidance of the Soviet Union. Thecountry finally became a democracy in 1990. Since then, theMongolian economy has moved slowly from government control to afree enterprise system.

On Location

•

Ulaanbaatar

Ulaanbaatar in Mongoliabegan as a Buddhist commu-nity in the early 1600s. Todayit is a modern cultural andindustrial center.

Place Why is Mongolia knownas the Land of the Blue Sky?

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About 85 percent of Mongolia’s 2.5 million people are Mongols.They speak the Mongol language. About 60 percent of the people live in urban areas. The largest city is the capital, Ulaanbaatar(oo•LAHN•BAH•TAWR). Mongolians in the countryside live on farms. Afew still follow the nomadic life of their ancestors. These herder-nomads live in yurts, large circle-shaped structures made of animalskins that can be packed up and moved from place to place.

Mongolians still enjoy the sports and foods of their nomadic ances-tors. The favorite meal is boiled sheep’s meat with rice, washed downwith tea. The biggest event of the year is the Naadam Festival, held allover the country in mid-summer. It consists of a number of sportingevents, including wrestling, archery, and horse racing.

Since before the days of the Mongol Empire, most people inMongolia have been Buddhists. Buddhism has long influencedMongolian art,music,and literature.Traditional music has a wide rangeof instruments and singing styles. In one style of Mongolian singing,male performers produce harmonic sounds from deep in the throat,releasing several notes at once.

For centuries, Buddhist temples and other holy places dotted thecountry. Under communism, religious worship was discouraged. Manyof these historic buildings were either destroyed or left to decay.Todaypeople are once again able to practice their religion. They haverestored or rebuilt many of their holy buildings.

What religion do most Mongolians practice?


The Race Is On!

Magnai races his olderbrother across the Mon-golian steppes. Magnailearned to ride horses whenhe was three years old.“You should visit my coun-try. It’s a Mongol tradition towelcome all visitors with hottea, cheese, fresh cream,and candies. Even in thecities, people offer theirhomes to visitors.”

Defining Terms1. Define high-technology industry, steppe,

nomad, empire, yurt.

Recalling Facts2. Economics What kinds of products are made

in Taiwan?

3. Government Why has Taiwan not claimedindependence from China?

4. History Which Mongol warrior conqueredmuch of Eurasia by A.D. 1300?

Critical Thinking5. Understanding Cause and Effect Why

did many people flee to Taiwan fromChina in 1949?

6. Drawing Conclusions Why do you thinkCommunist leaders discouraged religiousworship in Mongolia?

Graphic Organizer7. Organizing Information Create a diagram

like this one. Then write either Taiwan orMongolia in the center oval. Write at least onefact about the country under the headings ineach of the outer ovals.

Economy Culture

GovernmentHistory


8. Analyzing Maps Look at the map on page . What mountains rise in western Mongolia?

What desert is found in southern and southeast-ern Mongolia?

495

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Applying the Skill

Practice key skills with GlencoeSkillbuilder Interactive Workbook, Level 1.

+ Chinese students attend an Internet exhibit in Beijing.

Distinguishing Fact From Opinion

CHAPTER 17

Watch a television commercial. List onefact and one opinion that are stated. Doesthe fact seem reliable? How can you provethe fact?

Practicing the SkillRead the paragraph below, and then

answer the questions that follow.

Anyone who thinks the Internet is notused in China has been asleep at themouse. China’s government-owned facto-ries and political system may seem old-fashioned. When it comes to cyberspace,however, China is moving at Net speed.Internet use is growing explosively. In1997 only 640,000 Chinese were usingthe Internet. By 2000, the number hadincreased to 12.3 million. The PhillipsGroup estimates that by 2005, the onlinepopulation should hit 85 million.

1. Identify facts. Can you prove thatChinese Internet use is increasing?

2. Note opinions. What phrases alert youthat these are opinions?

3. What is the purpose of this paragraph?

Distinguishing fact from opinion can helpyou make reasonable judgments about whatothers say and write. Facts can be provedby evidence such as records, documents, orhistorical sources. Opinions are based onpeople’s differing values and beliefs.

Learning the SkillThe following steps will help you iden-

tify facts and opinions:

• Read or listen to the information carefully.Identify the facts. Ask: Can these state-ments be proved? Where would I findinformation to prove them?

• If a statement can be proved, it is factual.Check the sources for the facts. Often sta-tistics sound impressive, but they maycome from an unreliable source.

• Identify opinions by looking for state-ments of feelings or beliefs. The state-ments may contain words like should,would, could, best, greatest, all, every,or always.

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Chapter

1717

Terms to Know dike faultcommunist stateconsumer goods

Main Idea China—the third-largest country in the world—has very diverse land-forms. China’s rapidly growing economy has changed in recent years.✓Place Rugged mountains and harsh deserts cover western and northern

China.✓Culture About 90 percent of China’s people live in the lowlands of eastern

China.✓Place China’s rivers bring fertile soil along with the danger of flooding to

the eastern plains.✓Economics China’s leaders have changed the economy to give the people

more economic freedom. The economy has grown rapidly as a result.✓Economics Many companies in China are now jointly owned by Chinese

and foreign businesspeople. This is because foreign companies can pay work-ers less than they pay workers in their own countries, and they have millionsof possible customers in the Chinese people.

Section 1 China’s Land and New Economy Section 1

Reading ReviewReading Review


Dynasties to CommunismTerms to Know dynasty human rights exile calligraphy pagoda

Main Idea The arts and ideas of ancient times still influence China today. ✓History The ancient teachings of Kongfuzi, Daoism, and Buddhism still

influence the people of China.✓History For thousands of years, dynasties of emperors ruled China. Today

Communist leaders keep tight control over all areas of political life.✓Culture China is famous for the skill of its craft workers and for its

distinctive painting and architecture.

Section 2Section 2

China’s Neighbors Terms to Know high-technology

industry steppe nomad empire yurt

Main Idea Taiwan and Mongolia have been influenced by Chinese ways and traditions. ✓Government Taiwan is an island off southeast China. The government of

China does not recognize Taiwan as a separate country.✓Economics Taiwan’s prosperous economy has influenced other

Asian economies.✓Place Mongolia has rugged terrain and a harsh landscape.✓Culture Some people in Mongolia still follow a traditional nomadic lifestyle,

and herding remains an important economic activity.

Section 3Section 3

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Chapter

1717Assessment

and ActivitiesAssessment

and Activities

1. Plateau ofTibet

2. Yellow River

3. Yangtze River

4. Hong Kong

5. Gobi

6. Beijing

7. Mongolia

8. Shanghai

9. TaklimakanDesert

10. Himalaya

J

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C


4000 mi.

0 km

N

S

EW

China & Neighbors

Place Location ActivityOn a separate sheet of paper, matchthe letters on the map with thenumbered places listed below.

Using Key Terms Match the terms in Part A with their definitions in Part B.

A.

B.a. a building with many-storied towers

b. country whose government has strong control over the economy and society

c. high bank of soil along a river to preventflooding

d. basic freedoms and rights

e. crack in the earth’s crust

f. the art of beautiful writing

g. nomadic tent made of animal skins

h. state of being unable to live in one’s owncountry because of political beliefs

i. line of rulers from the same family

j. industry that produces electronic equipment

Reviewing the Main Ideas Section 1 China’s Land and New Economy 11. Place Where do most of China’s people

live? 12. Place What major rivers flow through the

plains and southern highlands of China? 13. Human/Environment Interaction How

has the new economy contributed to airpollution in China?

14. Economics Give three reasons whyChina’s economy has boomed.

Section 2 Dynasties to Communism 15. Culture What are the ideas of Kongfuzi?

Of Laozi? 16. History Name three Chinese inventions.17. Government What kind of government

did China have between 1911 and 1949?

Section 3 China’s Neighbors 18. Economics Why is Taiwan’s economy

important in Asia? 19. Place How does Mongolia’s landscape

prevent much farming? 20. Economics How are Mongolia’s main

industries related to herding?

1. fault

2. dynasty

3. exile

4. high-technologyindustry

5. dike

6. communist state

7. pagoda

8. calligraphy

9. human rights

10. yurt


Great Wall of ChinaGreat Wall of China

HimalayaTaklimakanAltay Mountains

GobiManchurianPlain

YellowSea

EastChinaSea

SouthChinaSea

CHINA

NEPAL

MONGOLIA

RUSSIA

China's Defenses

Directions: Study the map below, and thenanswer the questions that follow.

Test-Taking Tip: Look for key words thatwill help you find the correct answer. Anexample is human-made in question 2. Inthis case, all of the answer choices are natu-ral defenses of China except for the correctanswer. Look at the map closely, using itstitle, the key, and the information shown onthe map to find the correct answer choice.

519

Standardized Test Practice


Self-Check Quiz Visit The World and ItsPeople Web site at twip.glencoe.com andclick on —Self-Check Quizzesto prepare for the Chapter Test.

H

Land Economy History Government People

Critical Thinking 21. Drawing Conclusions Why do you think

China wanted to be isolated from Europeancountries in the 1700s and 1800s?

22. Organizing Information Create a chart likethe one below. Under each heading, write atleast two facts about China.

Comparing Regions Activity23. Culture Research to find information on

Chinese art and architecture. Then choose acountry in eastern Europe, such as Ukraine,and research its art traditions. How are theart forms similar and different? Include illus-trations and photos of what you find.

Mental Mapping Activity 24. Focusing on the Region Create a simple

outline map of China and its neighbors, andthen label the following:

• Himalaya • Gobi • Yellow River • Ulaanbaatar • Taiwan • Yangtze River• Beijing • Hong Kong

Technology Skills Activity25. Developing a Multimedia Presentation

Using the Internet, research one of the arts ofChina. You might choose painting, architec-ture, literature, music, or a craft such as cast-ing bronze or making silk. Create a museumexhibit that presents your findings. Includephotographs that show examples of worksfrom different periods in Chinese history.

1. Where is the Gobi?A Near China’s Russian borderB In the southwestern part of ChinaC In the HimalayaD Along China’s border with Mongolia

2. Which of the following is a human-madedefense?F The Great Wall of ChinaG The GobiH The TaklimakanJ The Himalaya

Chapter 17



HISTORYG E O G R A P H Y &

▼

The Silk Road

A man and his camel travel the Silk Road in China.

Soft and sleek, silk is a valuable textile.

The road itself was anythingbut soft and smooth. Travelingfrom China,camels laden withsilk and other cargo trudgedthrough deserts, including theTaklimakan,a name meaning “go in and you won’t come out.”Sandstorms and intenseheat made passage difficult.Farther along the route, thePamir mountain range thrust an ice- and snow-covered bar-rier in the way. The road wasdangerous as well. Banditsattacked often, stealing valuablegoods.

Few traveled the entire4,000-mile (6,437-km) series of routes. Instead,merchantsbought goods in trading postsand oases along the way andsold them at other markets far-ther along,much as relay run-ners pass a baton.

Was there really a road made of silk? Well, not exactly.Silk, however, was one of the main products carriedalong the Silk Road—a system of trade routes thatlinked ancient China and the empires of the West.When Chinese silk became fashionable in Rome, theprecious cloth traveled the Silk Road.

A Risky Route Chinese Secret Agent

1 How is the Silk Road “made of silk”?

What were someobstacles along theSilk Road?

QUESTIONS

2

520

Zhang Qian, an agent on asecret mission for Chinese Em-peror Wudi, may have started thesilk trade. In 139 B.C. invadersswept into China, despiteChina’s Great Wall. Zhang Qianwas sent far into Central Asia tofind allies to help fight the invad-ers. He found no allies. Instead,he brought back strong horsesfor the military, which he hadbought with bolts of silk.

Soon the Chinese were trad-ing silk with the Parthian Empire,which is present-day Iran. It issaid that Rome wanted silk afterits soldiers spotted silk bannersfluttering above Parthian troops.By the A.D. 100s, China andRome were trading a variety ofgoods. From the East came suchexotic items as silk, spices, andfruits. Rome paid in glass, wool,and ivory, but mostly in gold.

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Ideas also traveled the SilkRoad. From India, the religion ofBuddhism reached China. Chris-tianity and Islam spread east-ward as well. Chinese techniquesfor making paper and explosivestraveled west. Western methodsof cloth manufacturing and bet-ter gun design went to China.The process for making silk,however, traveled nowhere untilmuch later. The Chinese success-fully guarded their secret—thatsilk was made from the strandsof a silkworm’s cocoon.

For centuries, goods andideas traveled between East andWest. In the 1300S, however, theSilk Road began to decline as searoutes proved safer than landroutes. Nevertheless, even today,parts of the Silk Road are busywith trade—and tourism. In addi-tion to camels, tour buses nowtravel the caravan routes.

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N

S

EW

ArabianSea Bay of

Bengal

SouthChina

Sea

Black Sea

CaspianSea

AralSea

MediterraneanSea

Samarqand

Baghdad

Antioch Xi’an

Anxi

Moscow

VelikiyNovgorod

Istanbul(Constantinople)

IRAN

IRAQINDIA

MONGOLIA

CHINA

RUSSIA

A F R I C A

TaklimakanDesert

Pamirs

Miller projection1,000

1,0000

0 km

mi.Silk Road

Silk Road Routes

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658-665 U8 CH23 S1 TWIP-860976 3/17/04 10:23 PM Page 658 C … · 2015. 2. 6. · China and Its Neighbors andIts C h a p t e r 17 To learn more about the people and places of China,