China’s Climate South China Yearly Monsoons May-September Warm and Wet North China Dryer and colder than South Depend on rivers for water

Middle Kingdom Traditional name for China. What they call China Centered in the North Geographically Isolated Surrounded by mtns, seas, and desert Only had contact with nomads in north & west Had no idea about other ancient civilizations Thought they were the center of the world

Middle Kingdom Beginnings Nomads settled to farm Civilizations began showing up around 5000 BC Began around rivers Rivers flooded every spring. Good for farming Farmers grew millet

Middle Kingdom Yangtze (Chang Jiang) and Yellow (Huang He) most important Longest and 2 nd longest in China Rivers described as Dragons Yellow River very important Also called China’s Sorrow 3000 Miles long 2 nd longest in China Muddiest river in the world

Middle Kingdom Very volatile Frequent destructive and deadly floods Can move course of river by 100’s of miles People built dikes to try and stop floods. Didn’t work Loess built up and raised river, making dikes useless. Didn’t stop people from settling on banks Soil around river called Loess Yellow-brown soil Perfect for growing crops, especially millet