CHINA

CHINA

In eastern Asia World’s most populated country Fourth largest country in terms of area Beijing is the capital Shanghai is the largest city 70% of it is mountains, hills, and highlands Wide range of climates Most farmland and people are in the east Most live in towns or villages Republic government controlled by the Communist party Government controls economy but is letting more free enterprise

1 in 5 people are Chinese Most work in agriculture 90% live in eastern China 92% are Han Family is very important Live modestly Men marry after 22 Women marry after 20 Only allowed to have two kids One of the world’s oldest civilizations Developed the compass, paper, and porcelain

Countries Around the World: China thousand The Chinese language has over a ___________________ characters in it. An ancient form of writing from China is called _________________. The ________________ and _________________ are two symbols of Communism. Besides rice the ______________________ plant has been grown in China for a long time. ____________ on the Chinese flag stands for revolution, the big star represents the _______________________, and the four smaller stars stand for the __________________________ . China has a ___________________________ climate. The Chinese were the first to use _______________________ and their currency is called the _______________________ . China’s official national religion is ______________________. The __________________________________ has the most fertile soil in China. calligraphy sickle hammer soybean Red Communist Party people diverse paper money Yuan atheist Yangtze River Delta

MODERN CHINA CROSSWORD PUZZLE

less than 20 years 1/3 ½ traditions and rituals less than 10% Privatization – the government not owning everything It allows individuals to own land and start businesses

8 times larger their writing 34 a minute and 7 million a year construction projects Chinese New Year

CHINA’S GEOGRAPHY and NATURAL WALL What continent is China a part of? This mountain range can be found along the southern border of China and India. It contains the highest mountain peak in the world. This desert is north of the Himalayas. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains and on the east by the Tarim River. This river originates in the eastern Himalayas and flows toward the East China Sea. It crosses the Sichuan Basin. What direction is Egypt from China and how many miles apart are they? This river winds across northern China from the Himalayas. It has two names - one being Chinese and the other English. This mountain range runs along the border of China and Mongolia. It is bordered on the east and south by a desert. This is the water body that lies between the mainland of China and the small island country of Taiwan. The Tropic of Cancer runs through this water body. 9. This eastern region in China is close to the water and is considered one of the most fertile regions in the country. It is directly south of the nation’s modern day capital city. Asia Himalayas Taklimakan Yangtze West <2300 miles Huang He ~ Yellow Altai Taiwan Strait North China Plain

What direction is India from China and how many miles apart are they? This water body is directly to the east of China. It lies between the mainland and the island chain of Ryukyu. This water body lies between China’s mainland and the Korean peninsula. It shares it’s name with a river that winds through eastern China. This fertile, flat area is located in northeast China and surrounded by the Greater Khingan Range on the west and Russia on the north and east sides. 14. This desert is found on the border between China and Mongolia. About how many miles wide and long is China? These are China’s western mountains and can be found between China and Kyrgyzstan. 17. This large plateau is found in southwestern China. South Border one another East China Sea Yellow Sea Manchurian Plain Gobi Over 2500 miles east to west over 1000 miles north to south Tien Shan Plateau of Tibet

MOUNTAINS (4) DESERTS (2) SEAS (3) It is said that nature has built a natural wall around China. List the names of the physiographic features which form China’s natural wall. MOUNTAINS (4) DESERTS (2) SEAS (3) What do you think will be the advantages and disadvantages to China having a “natural wall”? ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Himalaya Hindu Kush Tien Shan Altai Gobi Taklimakan Yellow East China South China Difficult to trade/travel to/with others Cause isolation Safe from invaders/protection Will have many natural resources

CHINA’S PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

Yangtze River Summer Temp. = 65° F Winter Temp. = 22° F Annual Precipitation = 40 ins. Vegetation Type = rainforest + The Yangtze river (meaning “Long River”) is the longest river in Asia, and the fourth longest in the world. It runs for a good 3,859 miles. To some people, it is considered a dividing line between northern and southern China.

Yangtze River Location: flows through south central China from the mountains to the sea Facts: Also known as the Chang Jiang Yangtze = Long River Longest river in China and Asia and 4th in the world It sometimes does flood People use the river to move goods between eastern and western areas in the region Its surrounding lands are very fertile

Annual Precipitation = 5.5 ins. Vegetation Type = desert Gobi Desert Summer Temp. = 113° F Winter Temp. = -40° F Annual Precipitation = 5.5 ins. Vegetation Type = desert The word “Gobi” means very large and dry in Mongolian. The Gobi Desert is the 5th largest desert in the world and is Asia’s largest. It covers an area of about 500,000 square miles. The Gobi Desert is a cold desert, and it is not uncommon to see frost or occasionally snow on its dunes.

Gobi Desert Location It covers part of China and Mongolia Facts one of the world’s largest deserts Most of the desert is stony and its surface is made up of small pebbles and tiny bits of sand It is a cold desert, and it is not uncommon to see frost and occasionally snow on its dunes Vegetation is sparse and the plants there tend to be small and widely spaced

Himalayan Mountains Summer Temp. = -13° F Winter Temp. = -100° F Annual Precipitation = 80 inches Vegetation Type = none + . The Himalayan Mountains are the world’s highest mountain range and contain the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, which is over 25,000 feet high. The Himalayas extend for 1,500 miles. These mountains are extremely dangerous to travel through, not only because of their height, but also because they are always covered in snow and ice.

Himalayan Mountains Location Along China’s southern border and forms a natural border between the Indian subcontinent Facts the highest mountain range in the world region is a bitterly cold place It is so cold that there is very little or no vegetation.

Huang He (Yellow) River Summer Temp. = varies Winter Temp. = varies Annual Precipitation = 16 ins. Vegetation Type = sparse grasses + The Huang He River is the second longest river in China, as well as the sixth longest river in the world. It stretches about 3,395 miles. This river is commonly known as the Yellow River, because that is the color of the river from all of the sediment it carries. Another nickname for this river is “China’s Sorrow”. It is called this because it has been known to have devastating floods.

Huang He (Yellow) River Location It bends through north central China from the mountains to the sea Facts Second longest river in China, 6th in the world called the Yellow River because of the enormous amounts of yellow silt Very muddy river Called "the cradle of Chinese civilization", as its basin is the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilizations the river has flooded more than 1,500 times, causing much damage and loss of life. This has also earned the river the name "China's Sorrow".

Annual Precipitation = 23 ins. Vegetation Type = grassland North China Plain Summer Temp. = 82° F Winter Temp. = 28° F Annual Precipitation = 23 ins. Vegetation Type = grassland + The North China Plain is the largest flat lowland area in China. It stretches across an area of 158,000 square miles. The early Chinese considered this plain “the center of the world”.

North China Plain Location east central China Facts is a flat region of grassland and temperatures range from very warm in the summer to cold in the winter. called the “Land of the Yellow Earth” because the ground is covered by yellow limestone silt from the Gobi Desert This flat yellow-soil plain is the main area of grains, corn, and cotton production in China. Wheat, sesame seed, and peanuts are also grown here. The plain is one of the most densely populated regions in the world.

Annual Precipitation = 10 inches Vegetation Type = sparse grasses Plateau of Tibet Summer Temp. = 45° F Winter Temp. = 18° F Annual Precipitation = 10 inches Vegetation Type = sparse grasses + The Tibetan Plateau is also called “the roof of the world”. It is the highest and largest plateau in the world covering an area about four times the size of Texas.

Plateau of Tibet Location The southwestern part of China is dominated by the high Tibet Plateau Facts This area is often called the “Roof of the World” since it is over two miles above sea level It is a very large area, covering almost a quarter of the land in China very cold and dry climate with sparse shrubs and grasses The natural vegetation is eaten by antelopes and yaks that roam the area

Taklimakan Desert Summer Temp. = 100° F Winter Temp. = 15° F Annual Precipitation = 5 inches Vegetation Type = desert More notes, find area The Taklimakan Desert is known as the largest sand-only desert in the world. Many different mummies have been found in this desert, and some date back over four thousand years. The word “taklimakan” is known to mean “desert of death” or “place of no return”.

Taklimakan Desert Location located in western China, just northwest of the Tibetan Plateau Facts Over 105,000 square miles considered one of the most dangerous deserts in the world “once you go in, you will not come out” The desert’s huge sand dunes shift and change as the wind blows the sand around and sandstorms arise with stunning speed the desert is very dry with vegetation near oases only Legend says that two armies and three hundred cities are buried in it

Tien Shan Mountains Summer Temp. = 41° F Winter Temp. = 15° F Annual Precipitation = 10 ins. Vegetation Type = forest + The Tien Shan Mountains are one of the longest mountain ranges in Central Asia. Their name means “mountains of the spirits”. The mountains at their lower levels contain many spruce forests.

Tien Shan Mountains Location The northwestern tip of China and lies to the north and west of the Taklimakan Desert Facts - one of the longest mountain ranges in Central Asia at 1700 miles long - The name Tien Shan literally means “celestial mountains” and is sacred to those who practice Daoism Heavy rain and snowfall on the range create a mountain environment that contrasts dramatically with the arid desert terrain of the southern foothills On the lower slopes, there are flowery meadows and forests Top of them are covered with glaciers

Manchurian Plain Summer Temp. = 75° F Winter Temp. = 10° F Annual Precipitation = 20 ins. Vegetation Type = sparse grasses The Manchurian Plain is also known as the Northeast China Plain. It covers an area of over 135,000 square miles. There are almost no trees on this plain. This area is good for raising livestock and herding.

Manchurian Plain Location northeastern China - east of Mongolia Facts Also known as Northeast China Plain is a land of low hills and plains and the natural vegetation is mostly prairie grass It has short, warm summers and is cold in the winter – dry in the north and wetter in the south In general, the plain is too cold and dry to be a good place for growing crops but is good for herding and livestock

CHINA’S GEOGRAPHY: HELPFUL or HARMFUL OTHER FACTS Natural barriers give protection Rivers link/bring the people together Rivers flood and enrich the soil for farming Rivers used for their resources and as transportation/trade routes Natural barriers make it hard to travel and communicate Numerous regions formed and developed their own ways and, therefore, the Chinese were not unified Rivers flood, destroy, and kill Deserts are dry wastelands Southwest = mountains North and west = mountains and deserts East = ocean All of the above act as barriers keeping China both isolated and safe

China Map Key Yangtze River Gobi Desert Himalayan Mountains Huang He/Yellow (River) North China Plain Plateau of Tibet Taklimakan Desert Tien Shan (Mountains) Manchurian Plain

QUESTIONS on CHINA’S GEOGRAPHY Name the mountains found in northwest China. The Huang He River and the Yangtze River flow in which direction? What part of China are the Himalaya Mountains found in? What direction would you travel in to get from the Taklimakan Desert to the Gobi Desert? Which physiographic feature of China has the warmest summer temperature? Which physiographic feature of China has the warmest winter temperature? Tien Shan west to east eastward southern or southwestern northeast or east Gobi Desert North China Plain

Which physiographic feature of China has the overall coldest temperatures? Which physiographic features of China get over 20 inches of precipitation in a year? Which physiographic feature of China is most like Carroll County? Defend your choice with at least three reasons. Explain why over ninety percent of China’s population lives in eastern China? Himalaya Mountains Yangtze River, Himalayan Mountains, North China Plain, Manchurian Plain NORTH CHINA PLAIN: similar temperatures, both have lots of grassland, both are farming areas growing corn, somewhat similar precipitations, both on the east coast flat, reasonable temperatures, on the coast, two major rivers flow through it, fertile soil

PREHISTORIC CHINA

Yangshao

Yangshao Began 10,000 B.C.E Settled near the Huang He (Yellow) River in north central China. Were farmers in China Had houses built partially underground with plastered floors and roofs supported by wooden beams Created painted pottery with geometric designs on it They used a kiln but no potter’s wheel

Lungshan

Lungshan About 3000 B.C.E Settled near the Huang He (Yellow) River in northeast China. Farmers that raised cattle, sheep, pigs, and dogs and grew wheat and millet Eventually settled in southern China to grow rice Leaders arose to complete projects to control flooding Created black pottery using a kiln and a potter’s wheel First to harvest silk from silkworms to weave fabric which became a major export of China

Xia

Xia Last of the Prehistoric settlements around 2000 B.C.E. (ruled for about 300 years) Settled near the Huang He (Yellow) River in north central China. Know about them from legends and eventually what archeologists have found Had bronze weapons and tools Were farmers Made pottery Rulers communicated with spirits for help and guidance Defeated by the Shang, China’s first dynasty Could eventually become China’s first dynasty when and if more evidence is found about them

The Shang Dynasty

SHANG DYNASTY 1700-1050 BCE 2) On the Huang He River in the North China Plain 3) The Shang dynasty is important because . . . CHINA’S FIRST DYNASTY 4) A series of rulers from the same family From the tombs, artifacts, and writing we have found

ZHOU DYNASTY

farmers lived in the Wei Valley on the Huang He River 2) In 1050 BCE Wu the Martial and the Zhou conquered the Shang 3) China’s longest lasting dynasty 4) Tian – impersonal power (heaven) worshiped by the Zhou that demanded right behavior and good government Mandate of Heaven – getting heaven’s (tian) support if you ruled well

KING NOBLES PEASANTS owned all of the land and granted Nobles complete control of the land given them, protects and defends the land and people, govern in the interest of the people controls the land given to him from the king which consisted of a walled town and the farms around it, must give the king a portion of what the peasants produce from his land, must send the king soldiers in times of war work the farmland and give the noble some of what they produce/make, are the soldiers

6) Dialects are different forms of the same language 7) Communication from region to region was difficult because people could not always understand each other when they spoke

8) Expanded the use of writing so no matter how a word was pronounced in the different regions of China, its written form would be the same and understood. This allows China’s culture to grow and spread.

ANCIENT CHINA’S BELIEF SYSTEMS

CONFUCIUS China’s greatest teacher Born in Lu, China Was part of a noble family then became poor and orphaned Well educated Gave simple lessons for living 551 – 479 BCE during the last years of the Zhou Dynasty Order and mutual respect among people led to peace Treat others the way you would want to be treated – Golden Rule

REN Central idea of Confucianism “relationship between two people” One person existing in harmony with another

CONFUCIANISM Husband and wife Father and son Older brother and younger brother Friend and friend Ruler and subject Sincerity (honest), loyalty (trusting), mutual respect (considerate) Family very important and children should respect their parents Rulers should act like good fathers Government should be based on goodness Government officials should earn their jobs

MOISM Mozi Universal love for all people and respect for all people will bring peace

LEGALISM All people are bad by nature Only a strong government with strict laws and harsh punishments can keep the evil under control

DAOISM Laozi Want a small and simple society Best leaders work quietly in the background and do not worry about getting credit Want to find Dao – “the way” of the universe by being in harmony with nature and in touch with your inner feelings

Qin and the Qin Dynasty

Uniting China

UNITING CHINA Qin was King of a state in 246 BCE Had a strong army of foot soldiers, archers, chariots of 600,000 men Conquers all of the other Chinese states by 221 BCE and declares himself emperor He uses spies, bribes, and alliances along with melting down rivals weapons into bells to get and keep control Ends feudalism and forces 120,000 ex-nobles to move to the capital, Xianyang, so he could keep an eye on them since they had the real power before him Starts a bureaucracy of 36 commandries which are ruled by 3 officials civil governor – laws and farming military governor – armies imperial overseer – kept an eye on the other two officials Each commandery is divided into counties overseen by a judge to enforce the laws

Standardizing China’s Culture

STANDARDIZING CHINA’S CULTURE China’s culture differed from region to region before Qin Qin standardizes China’s culture writing system consisted of a dictionary of 3,300 characters which improved communication number 6 was the basis of all measurement and measuring cup was standardized one coin called a banliang was used as currency Qin was a legalist so he created a system of laws and everyone was treated the same with both rewards and punishments Punishments = fines, beheadings, forced labor, whipped, amputations, etc. Built a network of roads to inspect his empire

Conflicts with Scholars

CONFLICTS WITH SCHOLARS Qin conflicted with Confucian scholars because his reforms went against Confucianism's beliefs Confucianists believed a ruler’s good behavior would make the people behave and you must honor past traditions Qin as a legalist believed that people were evil and needed strict laws and harsh punishments to behave and he rejected the past and devoted himself to new ideas and methods Burned almost all of the Confucian books and forbade public teaching of Confucianism Executed over 460 Confucian scholars for plotting against him and had them buried alive or beheaded His own son was punished for sticking up for the scholars

Building the Wall

BUILDING THE WALL Qin built many public works projects (roads, water canals, Great Wall) by forcing hundreds of thousands of his people to build them Connected and extended what was already started as the Great Wall across all types of terrains and weather Did this to prevent invasion and discourage escape It took at least 300,000 workers (soldiers, peasants, govt. officials, criminals) Tens of thousands died building The Wall and were buried in it making it “the longest graveyard in the world” The Wall is over 1500 miles long, made of stone, brick, and dirt Average height = 25 ft. Average thickness = 15-30 ft. It did not fill it’s purpose but still is considered an awesome achievement

Emperor’s Death and Burial

EMPEROR’S DEATH and BURIAL Qin was unhappy and scared of death and wanted to live forever (immortality) Was told to hide from evil spirits so in his 270 palaces he had secret passages built in and between them Died in 210 BCE at age 49, poisoned by drinking potions that were to give him immortality His death was kept a secret until his body was returned to the capital Was laid to rest in a magnificent tomb that was started when he was 13 It covered 8 sq. miles and took 700,000 workers to make, workers were buried alive with Qin so no stealing would take place The tomb contains the terra cotta army (clay soldiers), city of bronze, mercury rivers and seas, jewels, rare objects, tools and traps

THE SILK ROAD

The Silk Road came about because people wanted silk. China was the only place that had silk. Since silk was scarce it was expensive and in very high demand. Traders or merchants wanted to make a profit on their expeditions. In order to make money, merchants had to sell their goods at high prices to cover the costs of travel, transportation, taxes, and protection. Along the Silk Road towns became trade centers. In the town bazaars the West traded gold, grapes, pomegranates, wool rugs, colored glass, and green and white jade. On the other hand, China traded back to the West silk, gunpowder, paper, compasses, and bamboo. The Silk Road went from Chang’an, China and went all the way west to the Mediterranean Sea.

Caravans, groups of merchants and government officials, made their way along the Silk Road. They used camels to carry goods on the journey because they could haul large loads and needed little water. These caravans faced many hardships on their trading journeys. Along the Silk Road they would encounter many possible setbacks or problems, such as, weather – sandstorms, cold, rain, etc., terrain – deserts, mountains, etc., and attacks from bandits. Caravans moved from town to town along the Silk Road. In each town, caravans would go to the caravanserai where they could stay, eat, drink, socialize, and leave their animals while they visited the bazaars. Along with the large amount of trade that took place along the Silk Road, there was also a rich diffusion of culture. Customs, beliefs, ways of life, and technology from one end of the Silk Road quickly spread to the other end of the Road.