big idea...the huang he (yellow river) is often called the “cradle of chinese civilization”....
TRANSCRIPT
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Big Idea
Geography shapes ancient China.
Essential Question
How did geography shape ancient China?
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Words To Know
Physical barrier – something natural that prevents people from meeting (like a mountain, forest or a desert).
Isolation – to be alone or by yourself.
Silt – fertile soil for farming.
Let’s Set The Stage…
The geography of Ancient China shaped the way the civilization and culture developed in China. China was isolated from much of the rest of the world by dry deserts to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the east and mountains to the south. This enabled the Chinese to develop independently from other world civilizations. This isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth. These beliefs in turn led the ancient Chinese to call their land, the Middle Kingdom.
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To the south and southeast of China are the Himalayan Mountains. These are the highest mountains in the world. They provided a nearly impassable border for Ancient China, keeping the area isolated from many other civilizations.
The Himalaya Mountains prevented the movement of people in and out of China (trading) and protected China from invasion.
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The Himalaya Mountains prevented the movement of people in and out of China (trading) and protected China from invasion.
To the north and west of Ancient China were two of the world's largest deserts: the Gobi Desert and the Takla Makan Desert.
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Merchants created trade routes that became important parts of the Silk Roads, connecting China to civilizations in the Middle East and Europe.
These deserts kept the Chinese isolated from the rest of the world.
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The two most important geographical features of Ancient China were the two major rivers that flowed through central China; the Yellow River to the north and the Yangtze River to the south. These major rivers were a great source of freshwater, food, fertile soil, irrigation and transportation.
The Huang He (Yellow River) is often called the “Cradle of Chinese Civilization”. Chinese history began in the Huang River valley, where Neolithic people learned to farm, founding what is sometimes called the Yellow River civilization.
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The Huang River got its name from the loess, or fine yellow soil (silt) for farming, that was left after yearly floods.The flooding of the Huang He gave it the nickname “the River of Sorrows”.The floods of the Huang He destroyed crops, brought mass starvation and killed millions of Chinese.
The Yangtze almost 4,000 miles long, is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. The river is the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country.
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The Yangtze almost 4,000 miles long, is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world. The river is the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country.
Farmers that lived along the Yangtze River took advantage of the warm climate and rainy weather to grow rice. The Yangtze also served as a barrier between northern and southern China. It is very wide and difficult to cross.
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Essential Question Answered
How did geography shape ancient China?
The geography of Ancient China shaped the way the civilization and culture developed in China.
China was isolated from much of the rest of the world by deserts, the Pacific Ocean and mountains.
Essential Question Answered
How did geography shape ancient China?
Since China did not have much contact with outsiders, the Chinese believed that China was the center of the earth and the only civilization. This allowed a unique (special) culture to develop.