Geography of China

I. China was isolated.

1. Natural Barriers Mountains: Himalayas, Kunlun and Tien Shan b. Deserts: Gobi and Takla Makan c. Bodies of Water: Pacific Ocean

2. Impact of Isolation Ethnocentric society developed. Ethnocentrism- the belief that your race or culture is better than all others. China called themselves the Middle Kingdom because they believed they were between Heaven and Earth.

3. Population Distribution 96% of the population live along coast and river valleys Why?

Modern China’s population: ~1.6 Billion people DON’T WRITE 1 Child Law- To control the population, Chinese families are only allowed to have one child. There are many exceptions.

4. Agriculture Only 11% of the land is arable. Arable = farmable Farmers practice: 1. subsistence farming- producing just enough to meet your basic needs (little or no surplus) 2. terrace farming- carving steps into the sides of mountains for farming

5. Rivers in China a. Huang He (Yellow River)- where Chinese civilization developed. -loess- fine, windblown soil, very fertile, settles in river causing flooding - known as “China’s Sorrow” because of flood damage

Xi River

Ancient Chinese DYNASTIES

The 4 Ancient River Valley Civilizations

Shang 1766-1027 BCE 1.

a. supervised flood control AND developed an accurate calendar

c. developed writing ideographs- symbols that represent ideas Oracle Bones- pictograms on bone used to predict the future

The Evolution of Chinese Writing Pictographs Ideographs

Zhou 1027 - 256 BCE (“Joe”) 2.

Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou) - Developed the Mandate of Heaven- a dynasty’s divine right to rule Dynastic Cycle- cycle of how dynasties rise and fall Ritual Food Vessel, bronze 11c BCE (Western Zhou)

3. Qin (“Cheeng”) 221-206 BCE - united China & connected Great Wall

- Built Emperor Shi Huangdi’s Tomb with his Terra Cotta Army

Note the western terminus at Jiayu Pass and the eastern terminus at Shanhai Pass.

4. Han 206 BCE – 220 CE

Used Civil Service Exam (Confucius’ idea that you have to pass a test to get a job) b. Invented acupuncture

c. invented paper [105 B.C.E.] d. Est. Silk Road trade route

detector were invented. 5. Tang (618 -907 CE) -The printing press, gunpowder, small pox vaccine, and the earthquake detector were invented.

Each of the eight dragons had a bronze ball in its mouth Each of the eight dragons had a bronze ball in its mouth. Whenever there was even a slight earth tremor, a mechanism inside the seismograph would open the mouth of one dragon. The bronze ball would fall into the open mouth of one of the toads, making enough noise to alert someone that an earthquake had just happened. Imperial watchman could tell which direction the earthquake came from by seeing which dragon's mouth was empty.

6. Song (Sung) 960- 1279 CE - China experienced a “Golden Age” - The Silk Road grew - trade between China, India, and the Mesopotamia increased.

7. Yuan (Mongol) 1279 -1368 CE

a. Kublai Khan (non-Chinese) ruled China b. Marco Polo visited China. Europeans became interested in China from his book. Kublai Khan Genghiz Khan Marco Polo

8. Ming 1369 – 1644 CE a. Revived arts and literature but isolated China when Europeans began developing advancing. Ming Vases, 18c Ming Painting and Calligraphy, early 16c

Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) China’s “Columbus?” Zheng He’s treasure ship was 400 ft. long in comparison to Columbus’ Santa Maria, which was 85 ft. long. That’s a BIG difference!

9. Ch’ing (Manchu) 1644 – 1911 CE a. The last Chinese dynasty b. Could not prevent Europeans from gaining power in China.

Foot-Binding in Ancient China Broken toes by 3 years of age. Size 5 ½ shoe on the right The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family. Founded the Imperial University Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system) Soldiers dropped to lowest status. Confucianists at work; Daoists at home. The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake! Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported. Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there. Mothers bound their daughters’ feet. For upper-class girls, it became a new custom.

The Results of Foot-Binding The Han Synthesis term refers to the emphasis on Legalism, but with a touch of Confucianism. The Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings (The Analects) and put a big emphasis on the family. Founded the Imperial University Required examinations to become bureaucrat (civil service system) Soldiers dropped to lowest status. Confucianists at work; Daoists at home. The Han tried to replace literature, including Confucius’s writings, lost during the Qin Dynasty. Created new works of literature and music. Scroll painting began during this time. Iron was now used for plows and weapons. Acupuncture was invented. Invented a crude seismic sensing tool, so they could send troops and food to the scene of an earthquake! Inventions include: paper (105 CE), sternpost rudder on ships, water mill, wheelbarrow, furrowed cultivation Show map for Silk Road trade. It brought Chinese together into one civilization, creating a common culture. Economically, it brought much wealth to the Han, as they exported much more than they imported. Wudi’s public schools taught Confucianism. Grand School in capital. In 100 years, 30,000 studied there.