1. Ancient China
Geography

2. Geographical Features of China
North-
Gobi Desert
East-
Yellow Sea
East China Sea
Pacific Ocean
West-
Taklimakan Desert
Mountain Ranges
Himalaya
The Pamir
Tian Shan
EQ: What effect did the physical features of China have to do with its early development?
Fertile soil, good for farming
Isolated China from other civilazations
Cities grew along banks of the Rivers
Because of the isolation it made it difficult for the spread of goods and ideas.
Graphic organizer Column 1

3. China’s Rivers Huang He River Chang Jiang Located in the North
Known as the Yellow River
Helped with farming
Yellowish silt
Known as China’s sorrow*
Levees**
Located in central China
Known as Yangtze
3rd longest river in the world
*Known as China’s sorrow because of the many floods that have occurred.
**They built levees and because of the enormous amounts of sediment the Yellow river required higher levees.
Graphic Organizer column 2 MODELING
Farming was done between the rivers.
Northern China Plain

4. Climate Varied Similar to the United States Western: Dry
Northern: Cold/Dry*
South East: Wet**
*Wheat and millet was grown in the northern drier lands
**Rice was grown in the south
Graphic organizer bottom of column 2

5. Shang Dynasty 1766 B.C. began to control cities
Developed along Yellow River
Controlled central portions of N. China Plain
Relatives ruled distant areas
Used chariots to defend kingdom
They went to war with nomads
Family and religion closely tied
Paid respect by making animal sacrifices*
E: How did the Chinese language develop?
Oracle bones and Pictographs
Did not have a strong central government
*Family- spirits of ancestors could bring good fortune to the family
Talk About It:
What river did Chinese civilization develop around?
Huang He/Yellow/China’s Sorrow
Why do you think they had relatives rule distant areas?
Vocab:
Nomads- a member of a group with no fixed home and moves place to place.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER top of page 2.

6. Developing Language Oracle Bones Pictographs Read page 255 aloud.
Graphic Organizer

7. Frequent pattern of ancient China
Dynastic Cycle
Frequent pattern of ancient China
Zhou kings believed that trouble with the rulers meant that the gods were not in favor of them
Mandate of Heaven: When a ruler was foolish the approval of the gods were taken away..
Graphic Organizer

8. Defeated Shang around 1027 B.C.
Ruler Wu Wang lead the force that defeated Shang
Did not have a strong central government
Kings put family or other trusted people in charge of surrounding regions*
Zhou Dynasty
Defeated Shang around 1027 B.C.
*Most of the time the trusted people owed loyalty or military to the king. In return for loyalty the King would help protect their lands.
As towns became cities Lords grew stronger with more groups under their rule. As the cities grew so did the lands the lords controlled which expanded the Chinese territory.
The Zhou Dynasty persuaded the Shang Dynasty that they lost the approval of the gods.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

9. Warring States Invasion of Chinese land was a reoccurring theme
After 800 B.C. Nomads from the North and West invaded China
771 B.C invaders destroyed the capital city Hao and killed the king*
Family escaped and set up a new capital in Luoyang
Lead to the period known as the Warring States (403 B.C.)
*Because the capital was destroyed and moved it was weakened. This caused the lords to fight amongst themselves.
GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

10. Overview: Rivers helped with the rise of China Civilization
Natural barriers isolated China
Huang He/Yellow River was also known as China’s Sorrow
Shang Dynasty was the first family to rule
Shang developed system of writing from oracle bones and pictographs
Zhou took control by using the idea of the Mandate of Heaven
Review:
How did the Mandate of Heaven help the Zhou take over the Shang?
The Zhou convinced the Shang that their rulers had lost the approval of the gods.
Dynastic cycle
Why does it matter?
Culture developed by the Shang and Zhou still influences the Chinese ways of life today
Talk about it:
What did you find most interesting about their geography?