Geography of China

China was isolated. Why?

Would you want to cross these to get into China? Cliffs along Huang He in Gansu

1. Natural Barriers a. Mountains: south- Himalayas west- Kunlun and Tien Shan b. Large deserts: north- Gobi west- Takla Makan c. Pacific Ocean- east

Ethnocentric society developed Impact of Isolation Ethnocentric society developed Ethnocentrism- the belief that your race or culture is better than all others. Called China “Zhongguo” or Middle Kingdom because they believed they were between Heaven and Earth.

3. Population Distribution How people distribute themselves in an area 96% of pop. live along coast and river valleys because 2/3 of China is mountains and deserts There’s farmable land along the coast and river valleys.

b. Modern China’s population: ~1.6 Billion people 1 Child Law- To control the population, Chinese families are only allowed to have one child. There are many exceptions.

4. Agriculture Only 11% of the land is arable. 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 China a. Huang He (Yellow River)- where the earliest 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

b. Chang (Yangtze) 1. Longest river 2. commercial c. Xi (Si) 1. southern- most river

Used for trade and transportation 6. Coastline Long and irregular (jagged) with excellent harbors Used for trade and transportation

Ancient Chinese DYNASTIES

The 4 Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Shang Dynasty 1766-1027 BCE 1.

a. supervised flood control projects (Yellow R.) b. developed an accurate calendar

c. developed a form of writing ideographs- symbols that represent ideas Oracle Bones- pictograms on bone used to predict the future

The Evolution of Chinese Writing during the Shang Pictographs Ideographs

Zhou Dynasty 1027 - 256 BCE (“Joe”) 2.

Ancient Chinese DYNASTIES

The 4 Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Shang Dynasty 1766-1027 BCE 1.

a. supervised flood control projects (Yellow R.) b. developed an accurate calendar

c. developed a form of writing ideographs- symbols that represent ideas Oracle Bones- pictograms on bone used to predict the future

The Evolution of Chinese Writing during the Shang Pictographs Ideographs

Zhou Dynasty 1027 - 256 BCE (“Joe”) 2.

a. Philosophies of Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism developed b. Economy grew (because of iron) population grew c. Broke into warring states

Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou) d. Developed the Mandate of Heaven- a dynasty’s divine right to rule Dynastic Cycle- cycle of how dynasties rise and fall Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou)

The Dynastic Cycle Start here A new dynasty comes to power. The emperor reforms the govt. & makes it more efficient. Start here Lives of common people improved; taxes reduced; farming encouraged. Emperor is defeated !! The Dynastic Cycle Problems begin (extensive wars, invasions, etc.) Rebel bands find strong leader who unites them. Attack the emperor. Poor lose respect for govt. They join rebels & attack landlords. Taxes increase; men forced to work for army. Farming neglected. Droughts, floods, famines occur. Govt. increases spending; corruption.

Imperial Dynasties

3. Qin Dynasty (“Cheeng”) 221 BCE

a. believed in Legalist principles b. united China & started Great Wall

c. Emperor Shi Huangdi’s Tomb with his Terra Cotta Army

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army Note the western terminus at Jiayu Pass and the eastern terminus at Shanhai Pass.

4. Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE

Used Civil Service Exam based on Confucian ideas - Emperor Wudi- improved life b. Made achievements in medicine (acupuncture), science and agriculture c. overthrown by foreign invasions

c. invented paper [105 B.C.E.] d. Est. Silk Road trade route

small pox vaccine, and b. The printing press, gunpowder, 5. Tang Dynasty (618 -907 CE) spread Chinese culture in Asia b. The printing press, gunpowder, small pox vaccine, and

the earthquake detector was 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 Dynasty (Sung) 960- 1279 CE China experienced a “Golden Age” with a stable government Culture flourished- grew & succeeded c. Silk Road grew - trade between China and the Fertile Crescent increased. It was 4,000 miles of harsh terrain.

7. Yuan Dynasty (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 Dynasty 1369 – 1644 CE a. Revived arts and literature but isolated China when Europeans began developing advancing. Ming Vases, 18c Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16c

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 Dynasty (Manchu) 1644 – 1911 CE a. The last of China’s dynastic families came from Manchuria b. Could not prevent Europeans from gaining power in China.

Foot-Binding in Ancient China Broken toes by 3 years of age. Size 5 ½ shoe on the right The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family. Founded the Imperial University Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system) Soldiers dropped to lowest status. Confucianists at work; Daoists at home. The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake! Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported. Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there. Mothers bound their daughters’ feet. For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

The Results of Foot-Binding The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family. Founded the Imperial University Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system) Soldiers dropped to lowest status. Confucianists at work; Daoists at home. The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake! Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported. Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there.