1. BellWork 9-29
If you were to dig a whole in your back yard all the way to the other side of the world, where would you end up?

2. China
Ancient China

3. Section 1 Objectives
Explain the role that rivers played in Chinese life
Describe how geography influenced the development of Chinese culture

4. SECTION 1- Geographic and Cultural Influences
China’s rivers, and isolation caused by mountains and deserts, shaped early Chinese culture.

6. The Physical Setting
1. Large land size, geographic variety, and widely different climates.
Different regions- Quinling Shandi Mountains divide China north and south.

7. Himalayas
3. Himalayas divide China from the rest of the world to the South by India.
4. Highest Peak is Mount Everest.

8. 5. North- less rain; plentiful rain in southern and central China makes rice the main crop.
6. Most important part of China called China Proper- home of major rivers- Huang, Chang, and Xi.

9. Important Rivers Chang River –
- flows for 3,434 miles in Central China
- modern times, large ocean shiops would navigate the waters because of how big and wide the river is.
Xi River
- located in southern China and is about 1,200 miles long.
- also an important waterway for trade just like the Chang River.

10. The Huang River
Also know as the “yellow river” because of the amount of silt deposits given off. These deposits turn the river yellowish.
Also known as the river of “sorrows” . Every year this river floods to over 15 feet about its actual level and causes many flooding problems and claims the life of many.
People began to build dikes or ditches to prevent from becoming flooded and causing damage to their crops.

11. China’s Isolation
12. Great distances, rugged mountains, and harsh deserts isolate China from the world.
13. Develops own distinct culture.
14. Infrequent contacts with foreigners gave the Chinese people a strong sense of identity and superiority.
ONLY CONTACT WAS WITH NOMADS… THEY THOUGHT THAT ALL THE WORLD WAS AS THESE NOMADS WHO WHERE, AT TIMES BARBARIC!

12. China’s Isolation
15. Called China Zhongguo or “Middle Kingdom” meaning center of the world.
16. Chinese regarded other peoples as inferior.
17. Invaders lose their identity and adopt Chinese culture.

13. Physical Features Yellow River
Benefit: Deposits of silt made it good for farming
Challenge: Frequent Flooding
Gobi Desert
- Benefit: Protected inner China from invaders
- Challenge: Nearly Impossible to live there

14. Physical Features
Taklamakan Desert - located in the West of China past the Tibetan Plateau

15. Physical Features Chang Jiang Basins Benefit: Good for growing rice
Challenge: little land for farming or grazing animals
Tibetan Plateau
- Benefit: Protected China from invaders
- Challenge: To dry and cold for farming

16. Rice Patties

17. Terrace Making