1. Ancient China
What you should know…

2. 5 Themes of Geography in China
Located in the east under Russia and above Vietnam
Natural barriers isolate China from the rest of the world
The landscape is mostly mountains and plateaus in the west and lower lands in the east
Location Region

3. Human Environment Interaction
Outer China is sparsely populated
Agriculture China is where most people live
Under Communist rule, the government (gov.) moved people to collective farms to produce more goods
Chinese population: 1 billion +++ (most are farmers, but only 4% of the land can be cultivated)

4. Population Facts
In 1980, China passed a “one-couple, one-child” law
Largest ethnic group is the Han

5. Place: What is the culture of China?
Confucianism Major religions
Belief in strong morals and consequences
Influenced much of the behavior of the Chinese
Buddhism (taught by Guatama Buddha, suffering is part of a cycle of life in which one day you reach Nirvana)
Taoism (action by inaction; harmony with life

6. Buddhism Siddharta Gautama
He was born rich, and deserted it to find personal peace or enlightenment
He was called Buddha, meaning “enlightened one”
Happiness is achieved by giving up worldly possessions
Reincarnation—if you live a bad life, you’re reborn as animals or insects, etc.
The cycle can be broken by reaching nirvana
Buddhism founder Buddhism beliefs

7. Paper and Printing Invented by Chinese in 105 B.C. from silk rags
Mass produced during Han dynasty
Woodblock printing came along in 9th century—very similar to printing press
Invented moveable type (Song dynasty)
There are over 80,000 characters in Chinese
Paper

8. Other inventions Chinese inventions Compass Gunpowder Wheelbarrow
Chopsticks
Tea drinking
kites

9. Movement: Dynasties The order of the major players
Shang ( B.C.)—first written history
Zhou ( B.C.)—first philosophers and interest in culture; LONGEST dynasty
Warring States Period (no one group ruled) ( B.C.
Qin ( B.C.) Shi-Huangdi becomes China’s first emperor. He orders building of the Great Wall
Han ( A.D.) Trade with Europe begins via the Silk Route begins. Paper is invented in 105 A.D.

10. More dynasties
Three Kingdoms ( A.D.) China splits into separate states. Buddhism spreads across China
Sui Dynasty ( A.D.) China is reunited as a country; the Grand Canal makes it easier to travel around China
Tang ( ) Literature and the arts flourish
Song ( ) Landscape painting, poetry, and calligraphy flourish. Mongols gain control of all China. Printing and gunpowder are invented.

11. Last bit of dynasties…
Yuan ( ) Marco Polo visits China b/w A.D
Ming ( ) This period is known for its porcelain, architecture, and popular literature

12. The Silk Road Mongols authority
From Mongols ruled China, thus allowing merchants to trade freely throughout the GIANT empire
Silk was the major export out of China, and it was the only place it could be found due to its secret process
Camels were the mode of transportation (as they could survive harsh conditions—lack of water…)

13. Marco Polo
Marco Polo
Traveled the Silk Road during the Yuan’s dynasty.
He was a favorite of Kublai Khan’s and served as an official in his gov. for 20 years
Wrote a book about his travels called Travels of Marco Polo in which he told of the fabulous wealth of the Chinese