1. Chinese Geography & Ancient History

2. Geography
Mountains- Located in the West; Himalayas divide China from Nepal
Mt. Everest- Tallest mountain in the world

3. Rivers
Two largest rivers are the Huang He or Yellow River, “China’s Sorrow”) and Yangtze River
Start in mountainous highlands in the west and flow east

4. China’s Rivers

5. Yellow River
Loess- Fertile yellow soil that gives the Huang He its color
Dikes prevent flooding

6. Yangtze River- Tiger Leaping Gorge
Largest river in China
Three Gorges Dam creates hydro-power for China
Tradeoff?

7. Deserts
Taklimakan- Sandy desert in northwest China; known for dust storms
Gobi- “waterless place”; 113 degrees in summer,
-40 in winter

8. Chinese Dynasties
1. Shang invade in 1700 BC, form first organized civilization and dynasty
2. For years, China is ruled by dynasties- families of rulers

9. Mandate of Heaven Ruler holds power until actions upset the gods
Gods give Emperors authority to rule as long as they look over the welfare of the people
If rulers fail to do this, heaven withdraws the mandate, brings disaster, military defeat, and a new dynasty start at 3:10

11. Chinese Dynasties Shang 9. Ming Zhou 10. Qing Qin 11. Chinese Republic
Han Communist China
Sui
Tang
Song
Yuan

12. Early Chinese Dynasties

13. Emperor Qin
Qin (pronounced Chin) becomes first emperor and unites countries
Creates what is considered Modern China
Begins to build protective walls
Creates elaborate tomb with clay soldiers (Terre-Cotta Soldiers)

14. China is invaded by Mongols led by Genghis Khan & Kublai Khan; Song Dynasty is conquered and Yuan dynasty is established
Warring Mongol leaders weaken Yuan dynasty; Zhu Yuanzhang founds Ming Dynasty
a. Unites modern China
b. Expands Great Wall to keep out Mongols

15. Religion and Philosophy
Confucianism
a. Founded by Confucius, develops new philosophy
b. Teaches importance of moral character
c. Rulers should take care of their people
d. Becomes governmental guidelines during Han dynasty; used in exams
e. Focus on here and now
f. Relationships are important: (Father/son, teacher student) but not equal

16. Taoism (or Daoism) b. Founded by Lao Tzu who writes the Tao te Ching
a. The Dao is “the way”
b. Founded by Lao Tzu who writes the Tao te Ching
c. Must find peace with the Tao
d. Ying and Yang
e. Mystical, look for balance
f. Lao Tzu might not exist, possibly a legend/myth

17. Ying and Yang

18. Buddhism enters China in 200 AD through Cultural Diffusion
Combines elements of all three philosophies

19. Legalism Founded by Lord Shang (Qin advisor) around 300 B.C.
Laws are the central part of society
Strict system of punishment and reward (who does this sound like?)
Basically, follow the laws or lose your head!

20. Chinese Achievements during Dynastic Age
1. Silk and the Silk Road: Traded silk, tea, porcelain and other spices along 4,000 mile route (Marco Polo)
2. Allows for cultural diffusion: exchange of ideas
3. Porcelain: Fine Chinese pottery; your mom might have this!
Writing: Simplify pictograms into characters; 50,000 characters exist

21. Marco Polo Italian Explorer Visits China via the Silk Road
Serves Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan
Journeys result in cultural diffusion between China and Europe

22. Marco Polo’s Route

23. Routes of the Silk Road