The Geography of China

1. The Geography of China China covers 4 million sq. miles Has Mts., plains, deserts Several major rivers

2. Major Rivers of China • Huang He - AKA Yellow River • Often floods • Called China’s Sorrow due to damage • Xi River • Chang Jiang – AKA Yangzi River • Longest River in Asia

3. Mountain Ranges of China • The Himalayas • In Western China • Mount Everest 29,035 feet tall • Border of China and India • Kunlun Mountains • Just N. of Himalayas

4. Other Physical Features of China • Gobi Desert • In N. China • Plateau of Tibet • North China Plains • Vast area of farmland in the East

5. China • Rivers provided transportation and water to early civilizations • Mountains and Deserts cut China off from other lands • Also cut Chinese civilizations off from each other

6. Brief History of Ancient China • China’s First Dynasty was the Xia (Shah) • Legend tells it was founded by Yu the Great. He is said to have dug channels over a 10 year span to drain flood waters to the ocean • No evidence of this

7. Brief History of Ancient China • First Dynast that can be proven was the Shang. • Established in about 1500 BC • Strongest in the Huang He River Valley ruled Northern China • Developed an organized Social order

8. Brief History of Ancient China • Began in the 1100s BC • The Zhou King claimed the Mandate of Heaven • Established a new political order similar to feudalism. Land granted in exchange for loyalty

9. Brief History of Ancient China • Qin Dynasty • 221 Shi Huangdi unified all of China under his rule • Shi Huangdi means first emperor. • Began building the Great Wall

10. Brief History of Ancient China • The Han Dynasty • Established 206 BC • Used Confucianism to rule

11. China Breaks Apart • When the Han Dynasty fell China Split into rival kingdoms ruled by military leaders • This is called the Period of Disunion • It lasted for nearly 400 years

12. China is Reunified • Yang Jian (Yang jee-En) • Conquered the south and unified China • Created the Sui (SWAY) Dynasty • Began building the Grand Canal to link N & S

13. Tang Dynasty • Established in 618 • Was a Golden Age for China • A time of peace and prosperity • A time of cultural and scientific growth. • Empress Wu was the only woman to rule China • China fell apart when Tang ended

14. Song Dynasty • China reunified in 960 by the Song • Song ruled for about 300 years • Also a time of great achievement • Bureaucracy was improved • Civil servants had to pass a test to work for the gov’t

15. The Mongols Attack • Nomadic people of North China Plains • 1206 the united under Genghis Kahn • Very brutal, terrorized people • Attacked China 1211 • By 1227 all of Northern China controlled by the Mongols • Genghis Kahn died in 1227

16. Yuan Dynasty • Genghis Kahn’s sons and grandsons continued to raid China • Kublai Khan (his grandson) became ruler of the Mongol Empire in 1260 • Conquered China • 1279 named himself Emperor of China • It was the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty

17. Yuan Dynasty • Yuan Dynasty began to weaken with failed attacks on Japan • In the 1300s the people rebelled • This was the end for the Yuan

18. The Ming Dynasty • Zhu Yuanzhang the monk who took charge of the rebellion • Became emperor in 1368 • Founded the Ming Dynasty • One of the most stable and prosperous times in Chinese history

19. Inventions of China • Woodblock printing • Gunpowder • Magnetic Compass • Paper • How do you think these inventions have affected human History??????????

20. Inventions of China • Chopstick • Toothbrush • Toilet paper

21. Inventions of China • Canon • Chess • Crossbow • Flamethrower • Grenades • Hot air balloon

22. Inventions of China • Paddle Wheel, for boats • Paper Money • Parachutes • Pontoon Bridge • Porcelain • Postal System • Saw

23. Agricultural Advancements in China • Underground wells • Dragon backbone pump • Discovered a fast growing rice

24. Confucius • Influential teacher in China • Grew up in poverty • Felt China had too many rude dishonest people. • Came up with guide lines restore family order

25. Confucianism • The major philosophy in China • Was the official philosophy of the government under the Han Dynasty. • The Analects – The written sayings of Confucius • Is not a religion, but some people view it as one.

26. Neo-Confucianism • Focused on old beliefs of Confucius • It also put stress on spiritual matters • Became the official gov’t teaching after the Song Dynasty ended.

27. Daoism • Early religion of China • Stressed living in harmony with the Dao • Dao • Gave birth to the universe and all things in it. • Developed as a reaction to Confucianism

28. Buddhism • Came to China through contact w/ India • People felt they received more hope regarding their suffering than from Daoism or Confucianism did • It offered rebirth and relief from suffering • Elements of China’s culture changed due to Buddhism

29. Famous People to know • Confucius • Genghis Khan • Kublai Khan • Zheng He • Empress Wu • Yang Jian • Taizong • Zhu Yuanzhang • Li Qingzhao • Wu Daozi • Li Bo • Cai Lun

30. Exports • Tea • Rice • Spices • Jade • Silk –worked hard to keep the method to make silk a secret • Porcelain

31. Imports • Foods they could not grow • Plants • Wool • Glass • Gold • Silver • Mostly traded with Korea, Japan, and India

32. Time Line of Dynasties • 1500s BC • Shang Dynasty • 1100s BC • Zhou Dynasty • 221 BC • Qin Dynasty • 206 BC • Han Dynasty

33. Time Line of Dynasties • 589 AD • Sui Dynasty • 618 • Tang Dynasty • 960 • Song Dynasty • 1279 • Yuan Dynasty • 1368 • Ming Dynasty