Geography and Early China Chapter 6 Section 1 Geography and Early China

Geography and Early China The Big Idea Chinese civilization began with the Shang dynasty along the Huang He. Main Ideas China’s physical geography made farming possible but travel and communication difficult. Civilization began in China along the Huang He and Chang Jiang rivers. China’s first dynasties helped Chinese society develop and made many other achievements.

China’s Physical Geography Geography played a major role in the development of Chinese Civilization. The area of China covers an area of almost 4 million square miles and 1/10th of the land can be farmed.

China’s Physical Geography It geography contains a myriad of different features, such as Mountains, Deserts, Jungles, and Plains. The Chinese called their land the “Middle Kingdom” and thought it was the center of the world.

Geographical Features China’s mountains and deserts isolate it from the rest of the world. The Gobi Desert lies in the north. Mountain ranges lie in the west, including the Plateau of Tibet and the Qinling Shandi. Dense jungles in Southeast Asia prevent further contact with any other nation. The Pacific Ocean to the East

China’s Plains Low-lying plains in the east make up one of the world’s largest farming areas, such as the North China Plan, around the Yellow River. The Qinling Shandi Mountains divide northern (cold and dry) and southern (wet and humid) China.

China’s Temperatures The weather and temperature vary depending on where you are in China. From cold and dry (North) to wet and humid (South), and monsoons can bring up to 250 inches of rain each year.

China’s Rivers China has two major rivers: the Yellow (Huang He) River and the Yangzi River. The source of both Rivers is from the Tibetan Plateau

Yellow (Huang He) River Along the Yellow River is where the first Chinese Civilization developed. The land around the river is free of forests and the soil is fertile, because of yearly flooding of silt. The River is nearly 3,000 miles across the north China

Yellow (Huang He) River Because The Yellow Rivers often floods, it has been referred to as “China’s sorrow” because of the massive destruction.

Yangzi River The Yangzi River is the longest river in Asia at 3,915 miles long. It flows across central China from Tibet to the Pacific Ocean

Civilization Begins Like other previous civilizations, the ancient Chinese settled along rivers. There they farmed, built villages, and formed a civilization. Frequent flooding of silt made the land fertile around the Yellow and Yangzi rivers.

Civilization Begins Around 7,000 BC farmers would grow rice along the Yangzi River and wheat along the Yellow River. Along with farming, the Chinese people hunted, fished, and domesticated animals.

Civilization Begins Some small villages along the Yellow River grew into larger towns. Separate cultures developed in the south, Sanxingdui, and the northeast, Hongshan. As these cultures grew they eventually merged.

Civilization Begins Overtime, these cultures became more advanced. After 3,000 BC people learned to dig wells and use potter’s wheels.

Civilization Begins Findings at burial sites suggest that the ancient Chinese believed in an afterlife and had a complex social order. Often the graves of rich people held beautiful jewelry and other objects made from jade.

Xia Dynasty The Xia dynasty might have been founded around 2200 BC, by Yu the Great. Tales say that a global flood occurred in Yu’s lifetime. Yu dug channels that let the water flow into the ocean, creating the major rivers of China.

Xia Dynasty Archaeologists have no firm evidence that tales about the Xia dynasty are true. The stories were important to the ancient Chinese because they told of kings who helped people solve problems by working together.

Shang Dynasty Established by 1500 BC, the Shang was the first dynasty that there is clear evidence to support. The Shang Dynasty originated in the Yellow River Valley. The Shang ruled a large area of the Northern China Plain.

Shang’s first Capital Luoyang The wall of the city was 33 feet high and 65 feet thick. The labor required to build this city wall would need 10,000 workers working 330 days for 18 years.

Shang Dynasty Shang Dynasty had established multiple capitals during their period, such as Anyang and Luoyang. The Shang reorganized the social order in China: the top ranking was the kings, then nobles, warriors, artisans, farmers, and slaves. The King was the center of the political and religious life.

Shang Dynasty Noble served the king as advisors and helped him rule. The Nobles owned much of the land, and passed on their wealth to their children. Most people in the Shang ruling classes lived in large homes in cities.

Shang Warriors

Shang Dynasty Artisans and other classes lived outside the city walls and in groups based on their particular craft. Artisans were the middle class of the social order.

Shang Dynasty Farmers worked long hours but had little money. Taxes claimed much of what they earned. Seashells were used as coins, until they were replaced by copper coins at the end of the Shang Dynasty Slaves were the lowest order, and were an important source of labor during the Shang period.

Shang Dynasty Many cultural advances were made during the Shang Dynasty. The Shang developed China’s first writing system, which was based on 2,000 different symbols. Its still forms the basis for modern Chinese writing.

Oracle Bones We know the Shang symbols and writing because of oracle bones. Oracle bones were predictions or questions written on either animal bone and turtle shells. They would place the oracle bone in the fire, and a crack would appear. Priests would predict the future based on the cracks.

Shang Dynasty The Shang developed advance bronze-working for cooking and religious ceremonies. They would also develop weapons of war, such as chariots, bronze body armor, and bows. Shang astrologers developed a calendar based on the cycles of the moon.

Questions pages 160-165 Cambridge: Copy question and Answer in a complete sentence What were ancient China’s two great Rivers? Why is the Huang He sometimes called China’s Sorrow? How did the floods along the rivers help the Chinese? According to ancient stories, what was the first Chinese Dynasty and who was its founder? What advances were made during the Shang Dynasty?