China: What’s the Big Deal?? By Madeleine Kim May 2, 2008

Land and Water China is the 3 rd largest country. China has mountains, plateaus and highlands. The North China Plain is the most fertile region. Mountains and deserts are 2/3 of China. The population of China is concentrated in the East. The Plateau of Tibet

Land and Water (Rivers) The Chang Jiang and Huang He are China’s two main rivers. –The Huang He has the nickname “China’s Sorrow” because it floods. –The Chang Jiang flows 3915 miles to the East China Sea from the Plateau of Tibet. –The Chang Jiang is the only river deep enough for cargo ships to navigate in East Asia. –The Chang Jiang and Huang He both flow through the North China Plain.

Climate and Vegetation A large part of Eastern China has a humid, subtropical climate. The Northern part of China is dry. The Plateau of Tibet is cool and dry. The best place to plant and live is the region around the Huang He or Yellow River.

Natural Resources Scientists estimate there are 74 billion barrels of oil in the Takla Makan Desert. Scientists estimate there are 74 billion barrels of oil in the Takla Makan Desert. China has many, but not all, needed minerals, so China has to import some raw materials. China has many, but not all, needed minerals, so China has to import some raw materials. China’s forests are depleted. But China is working to replant them. China’s forests are depleted. But China is working to replant them. China has many fisheries. China has many fisheries. Only 10% of land can be farmed naturally, so farmers cut terraces into hillsides. Only 10% of land can be farmed naturally, so farmers cut terraces into hillsides.

Natural Resources (cont.) Chinese farmers plant a second crop between rows of another crop to grow more food. Chinese farmers plant a second crop between rows of another crop to grow more food. Chinese farmers also double crop. Chinese farmers also double crop. China has almost no livestock because they take up too much space. China has almost no livestock because they take up too much space.

Historic Traditions (1) Confucius was born in 500 B.C. His ideas helped the government work well. The Chinese people called their country the “Middle Kingdom.” The Chinese invented paper, gunpowder, silk weaving, the compass, the printing press, clockwork, the spinning wheel, and the water wheel. The Chinese were experts at building canals, bridges and dams.

Historic Traditions (2) China has been governed by Emperors ruling in different dynasties. Chinese and Korean history are closely related. When life was hard in China, some migrated to Korea. In this way, Chinese beliefs became embedded in Korean society. In ancient times, China’s technology was very advanced compared to Europe.

Historic Traditions (3) Marco Polo traveled to China in the 1200s. When he returned, he told magnificent stories of the “East Country” (China). In the 1800s, the British, French, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese all took control of parts of China for its wealth.

Historic Traditions (4) In 1911 there was a revolution after which there were no more Emperors. After World War II, a civil war broke out between the Communists and the Nationalists. The Nationalists wanted to turn China is a country that could manage on its own. The Communists wanted no wealthy people and no foreigners. Vs.

Historic Traditions (5) In 1949 the Communists won, and the Nationalists fled to Taiwan. The Taiwanese flag. The Chinese flag.

People and Cultures  China has a strong contrast of past and present.  One of the first things the Communists did was to take away private land and make Communes.  The farmers were angry, so their production fell. As a result, people went hungry. So, the Communists gave them back small plots of land.

People and Cultures (2)  The Communists attacked the idea of large families. –This was more successful than Communes. –If a family had only one child they got extra benefits.

People and Culture (3)  Communists gave women better status then they had before. –They could own property. –They could work outside of the home. –They could choose their own husbands, and also divorce them. –Still, the men had more power.

People and Cultures (4)  Old traditions are more obvious in rural areas, but you can still see some old traditions in the city.  The Chinese respect the past.  19 out of 20 Chinese trace their ancestry to the Han ethnic group.  Han was the second Chinese dynasty.  There are 55 other ethnic groups besides the Han.  There are many different dialects.

China, Transforming Itself When they came to power in 1949, the Communists had no nations friendly to them. China had no peace for a century. China’s manufacturing and agriculture were very outdated for many years, so China was very poor in the 1950s.

China, Transforming Itself (2) Mao Zedong, the ruler of China, was not happy with the poor economy. So, he introduced the Great Leap Forward, which actually pushed the economy backwards. Factories were created quickly, but there was no planning and the builders had no experience so the factories didn’t work well.

China, Transforming Itself (3) Mao ruled Communist China from 1949, when the Communist s beat the Nationalists, to1976, when he died.

China, Transforming Itself (4) In 1966, Mao started the Cultural Revolution, designed to cut all ties to the past. Students rebelled against their teachers and families, and became the Red Guard. The Red Guards beat up artists, lawyers, doctors, and professionals. The Red Guard became mad at Mao, so the Red Guard were put in jail.

China, Transforming Itself (5) Mao ended the Cultural Revolution in The Cultural Revolution resulted in the deaths of thousands of Chinese, and left China in shambles. Mao Zedong died in For the next 20 years, a small amount of free enterprise was allowed.

China, Transforming Itself (Taiwan) The Nationalists fled to Taiwan and created the Republic of China. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan and created the Republic of China. In 1950, Taiwan’s economy was very good. In 1950, Taiwan’s economy was very good. The Taiwanese government let farmers buy land at cheap prices which increased their production. The Taiwanese government let farmers buy land at cheap prices which increased their production.

China, Transforming Itself (Taiwan) The Taiwanese Government used the money from exported produce to build roads and new industries. The Taiwanese Government used the money from exported produce to build roads and new industries. They also sold computer chips, electronics, and computers to the world. They also sold computer chips, electronics, and computers to the world. In 1970, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and other countries were nicknamed the “Asian Tigers” for their economic growth. In 1970, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and other countries were nicknamed the “Asian Tigers” for their economic growth.

China, Transforming Itself (Taiwan) Because the Asian Tigers had a history of being poor they were happy to trade with other countries. Because the Asian Tigers had a history of being poor they were happy to trade with other countries. Some borrowed from foreign banks for development. The huge debt caused a crash in Some borrowed from foreign banks for development. The huge debt caused a crash in The International Monetary Fund helped the Asian Tigers slowly recover. The International Monetary Fund helped the Asian Tigers slowly recover.

China, Transforming Itself (5) China had watched the Asian Tigers and did not take the same risks that the Asian Tigers did. Today, China is a world economic force. China’s middle class is growing. China’s government is encouraging growth of business and industry in rural China.

China’s Religions The three main religions in China are: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Together they are called the “Three Ways.” The three main religions in China are: Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Together they are called the “Three Ways.” Yin and Yang symbolize femininity and masculinity, respectively. Yin and Yang symbolize femininity and masculinity, respectively.

The End

Bibliography The information in this presentation comes from: Asia and the Pacific, Harcourt, Asia and the Pacific, Harcourt, “China from Past to Present”, a video by United Streaming. “China from Past to Present”, a video by United Streaming.

Picture Bibliography Mao page 18: Mao page 18: Chinese flag page 1 and 10,11: Chinese flag page 1 and 10,11: zone/asia/china/images/china-flag.jpg zone/asia/china/images/china-flag.jpghttp://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time- zone/asia/china/images/china-flag.jpghttp://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time- zone/asia/china/images/china-flag.jpg Taiwanese flag page 10,11: Taiwanese flag page 10,11: g.jpg g.jpg Buddha page 25: Buddha page 25:

Picture Bibliography (2) Confucius page 7: Confucius page 7: Plateau of Tibet page 2: Plateau of Tibet page 2: content/uploads/2007/07/tibet-plateau.jpg content/uploads/2007/07/tibet-plateau.jpg Yellow River page 3: Yellow River page 3: China climate map 4: China climate map 4: jpg jpg

Picture Bibliography (3) Terraced hillside page 5: Terraced hillside page 5: province/guangxi-rice-terrace.jpg province/guangxi-rice-terrace.jpg Double crop page 6: Double crop page 6: 04/toxicosis/image/fescue22csm.jpg 04/toxicosis/image/fescue22csm.jpg Chinese emperor page 8: Chinese emperor page 8: stories.jpg stories.jpg

Picture Bibliography (4) Marco Polo page 9: Marco Polo page 9: sized.jpg sized.jpg Chinese child page 13: Chinese child page 13: Chinese women working page 14: Chinese women working page 14: g g Chinese ethnic map page 15: Chinese ethnic map page 15: hnolinguistic_83.jpg/350px-China_ethnolinguistic_83.jpg hnolinguistic_83.jpg/350px-China_ethnolinguistic_83.jpg

Picture Bibliography (5) Chinese factory workers page 17: Chinese factory workers page 17: 0x468.jpg 0x468.jpg Female Red Guard page 19: Female Red Guard page 19: Taiwanese farming the land page 21: Taiwanese farming the land page 21: story/agriculture/images/smap/webphotos/1-1.jpg story/agriculture/images/smap/webphotos/1-1.jpg A Taiwanese computer page 22: A Taiwanese computer page 22:

Picture Bibliography (6) IMF logo page 23: IMF logo page 23: Rural China page 24: Rural China page 24: