Geography of China

I. China was isolated.

a. Mountains: Himalayas, Kunlun and Tien Shan

b. Deserts: Gobi and Takla Makan

c. Bodies of Water: Pacific Ocean

1. Natural Barriers

2. Impact of Isolation

• Ethnocentric society developed.

• Ethnocentrism- the belief that your race or culture is better than all others.

• China called themselves the Middle Kingdom because they believed they were between Heaven and Earth.

3. Population Distribution• 96% of the population live along coast and

river valleys

Why? Why?

• Modern China’s population: ~1.6 Billion people

DON’T WRITE

1 Child Law- To control the population, Chinese families are only allowed to

have one child. There are many exceptions.

4. Agriculture

a. Only 11% of the land is arable.b. Arable = farmable

Farmers practice:1. subsistence farming-

producing just enough to meet your basic needs (little or no surplus)

2. terrace farming- carving steps into the sides of mountains for farming

5. Rivers in Chinaa. Huang He (Yellow River)- where Chinese

civilization developed.

-loess- fine, windblown soil, very fertile, settles in river causing flooding

- known as “China’s Sorrow” because of flood damage

Xi River

The 4 Ancient The 4 Ancient River Valley River Valley CivilizationsCivilizations

The 4 Ancient The 4 Ancient River Valley River Valley CivilizationsCivilizations

1.

a. supervised flood control AND developed an accurate calendar

c. developed writing ideographs- symbols that represent ideas

Oracle Bones- pictograms on bone used to predict the future

The Evolution of The Evolution of ChineseChineseWritingWriting

The Evolution of The Evolution of ChineseChineseWritingWriting

PictograpPictographshs

IdeographIdeographss

(“Joe”) 2.

- Developed the

Mandate of Heaven- a dynasty’s divine right to rule

Dynastic Cycle- cycle of how dynasties rise and fall

Ritual Food Vessel, Ritual Food Vessel, bronze bronze

11c BCE (Western 11c BCE (Western Zhou)Zhou)

Ritual Food Vessel, Ritual Food Vessel, bronze bronze

11c BCE (Western 11c BCE (Western Zhou)Zhou)

- united China & connected Great Wall

- Built Emperor Shi Huangdi’s Tomb with his Terra Cotta Army

a. Used Civil Service Exam (Confucius’ idea that you have to pass a test to get a job)

b. Invented acupuncture

c. invented paper [105 B.C.E.]

d. Est. Silk Road trade route

(618 -907 CE)

-The printing press, gunpowder,

small pox vaccine,

and the earthquake

detector were invented.

Each of the eight dragons had a bronze ball in its mouth. Whenever there was even a slight earth tremor, a mechanism inside the seismograph would open the mouth of one dragon. The bronze ball would fall into the open mouth of one of the toads, making enough noise to alert someone that an earthquake had just happened. Imperial watchman could tell which direction the earthquake came from by seeing which dragon's mouth was empty.

6. Song (Sung) 960- 1279 CE- China experienced a “Golden Age”

- The Silk Road grew

- trade between China, India, and the Mesopotamia increased.

7. Yuan (Mongol) 1279 -1368 CE

a. Kublai Khan (non-Chinese) ruled China

b. Marco Polo visited China. Europeans became interested in China from his book.

Kublai Khan Genghiz Khan Marco Polo

8. Ming 1369 – 1644 CE

a. Revived arts and literature but isolated China when Europeans began developing advancing.

Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16cMing Vases, 18c

Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho)China’s “Columbus?”

Zheng He’s treasure ship was 400 ft. long in comparison to Columbus’ Santa Maria, which was 85 ft. long. That’s a BIG difference!

9. Ch’ing (Manchu) 1644 – 1911 CE

a. The last Chinese dynasty

b. Could not prevent Europeans from gaining power in China.

Foot-Binding in Ancient ChinaFoot-Binding in Ancient ChinaBroken toes by 3 years of age.

Size 5 ½ shoe on the right

Mothers bound their daughters’ feet.

For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

The Results of Foot-BindingThe Results of Foot-Binding