1. How did geography influence the development of Ancient China?

2. How did geography influence the development of Ancient China?
China is a very diverse land including deserts, mountains and fertile river basins.
Most early people settled along the Huang He River.

3. Geographic Features Huang He River Yangtze River Loess (silt)
Gobi Desert
Pacific Ocean
Himalayan Mts.
Jungles

4. How did geography influence the development of Ancient China?
Huang He & Yangtze Rivers were used for transportation and irrigation.
Irrigation was very important to produce rice and wheat.
Rivers deposited a layer of rich soil, called loess.

5. How did geography influence the development of Ancient China?
Ancient China was very isolated from other civilizations.
Because of their isolation, the early Chinese believed they were the only civilization in the world.
Ethnocentrism: the belief that your culture is superior to all others;

6. How did geography influence the development of Ancient China?
Only 10-12% of the land was usable for farming.
Chinese farmers used terrace farming techniques to produce rice during the Ming Dynasty.