BELL WORKHOMEWORK: Design a DO NOT TRESPASS sign for one of the physical features of China. Need a title, a picture, and 3 reasons to NOT live there.

TODAY’S TITLE: # Geography of China

WAR: Answer the following question: “What kind of realistic geographic features would make you NOT want to live in a certain place and why?”

EARLY CHINACHAPTER 7

OVERVIEW OF CHINA’S GEOGRAPHY Modern China is the world’s 3rd largest

country at 3.7 million square miles It has the highest population of 1.2 billion

people We will divide China into 2 main areas: Outer

China and Inner China to better understand the geography

OUTER CHINA Includes the western and northern parts

An area of great extremes

Contains the following: Tibet-Qinghai Plateau, the Northwestern Deserts, and the Northeastern Plain

INNER CHINA Includes the southeastern part of China

Contains rolling hills, river valleys, and plains

Includes the North China Plain and the Chang Jiang Basins

THE TIBET-QINGHAI PLATEAU Called the “Roof of the World” Rocky land with high mountains (the

Himalayas are part of it) The climate is very cold because the

elevation is so high It is also very dry here Some vegetation like scrubs and grasses Two major rivers begin in the area: Huang He

River and Chang Jiang River ( aka the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers)

TIBET-QINGHAI PLATEAU

NORTHWESTERN DESERTS:

TAKLIMAKAN DESERT One of the most dangerous deserts in the

world Filled with large sand dunes Sandstorms are common Very dry and hot

GOBI DESERT One of the world’s largest deserts Has few sand dunes Very stony and little vegetation

TAKLIMAKAN GOBI

NORTHEASTERN PLAIN Located east of present-day Mongolia Low hills and plains Mostly filled with prairie grass 2 major rivers flow through here: the Liao

and Sungari Rivers Has short, warm summers and dry, cold

winters In the south, a coastal plain links this area to

the rest of China and invaders used this route to invade China

NORTHEASTERN PLAIN

THE NORTH CHINA PLAIN A flat region of grassland Temperatures range from very hot to very

cold Called the “Land of the Yellow Earth” because

it’s covered with yellow silt, which blows in from the Gobi Desert

This where the Huang He River gets its nickname (Yellow River). It is also the world’s muddiest river! Ick!

The silt fertilizes the land making it very fertile

But the river floods A LOT!

NORTH CHINA PLAIN

MIDDLE AND LOWER CHANG JIANG BASINS Low, wet coastal plains located along the

Chang Jiang River The river has hundreds of tributaries (small

streams) Flows through 3 plains and then a rich, fertile

delta Floods less often than Huang He Climate is warm and wet At one time, there may have been rainforests

here Limited space for farming, but good for rice!

MIDDLE AND LOWER CHANG JIANG BASINS

RATE THE PHYSICAL FEATURES! Let’s now rate these places on the following:

Most likely to produce a dependable food supply, Most likely to contribute to Outstanding Trade, and Most likely to be the site of China’s earliest settlement.

Where do YOU think the first Chinese civilization arose?

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF ANCIENT CHINA Settled mostly on the North China Plain

because it had plenty of water, fertile soil, and a moderate climate.

Tibetan Plateau and Northeastern Plain were too cold and dry

Northwestern Deserts were too dry The Chang Jiang Basins were wet and fertile,

but heavy rains made farming difficult. Out of all of China’s land, only 1/10 is

farmable. The rest is covered by mountains and deserts.

BELL WORKHOMEWORK:TODAY’S TITLEWAR:

SECTION 1: HOW DID CIVILIZATION IN CHINA BEGIN? Farming began along the Huang He and

Chang Jiang rivers Grew rice, millet, and wheat Also fished and hunted Had domesticated pigs and sheep Small villages grew into walled towns that

spread in both northern and southeastern China

Burial sites indicate that early Chinese believed in an afterlife similar to Egyptian beliefs

Graves contained jewelry and other objects made from jade, a hard gemstone

WHAT WAS THE XIA DYNASTY? Kings ruled early China 2200 BC: Yu the Great founded the Xia

Dynasty Yu dug channels to control widespread

flooding and created major waterways of northern China

Not much else is known about this dynasty Many stories are told about how the kings

tried to help people solve problems by working together

WHAT WAS THE SHANG DYNASTY? Established in the 1500s BC Shang family emerged as most powerful and

ruled northern China King was the center of political and religious

life Nobles served him as advisors Organized Society: kings and their families

warlords and aristocrats traders, artisans farmers slaves

WHAT WERE SOME SHANG ACHIEVEMENTS? Created China’s first writing system, which used more

than 2000 symbols. This is what Chinese writing is based on today!

1st Shang writing was found on cattle bones and turtle shells

Used these bones as oracles, or predictions of the future

Made beautiful containers made of bronze for cooking and religious ceremonies

Made jade axes, knives, and ornaments from jade Developed war chariots, bows, and bonze body armor Developed a calendar based on the cycles of the moonPre-AP: hint, hint! You could use these as project artifact ideas!!

BELL WORK

SECTION 2: THE ZHOU DYNASTY AND NEW IDEAS The Zhou overthrew the Shang in the 1100s

BC This dynasty lasted longer than any other in

Chinese history Claimed to have a mandate of heaven,

which means that heaven gives power to the king

Expanded territory

WHAT WAS THE ZHOU POLITICAL SYSTEM LIKE? Granted land to people in return for loyalty,

military support, other services. Lords, or people of high rank, received land

in return for payment of taxes and providing soliders

Peasants, or small farmers, would receive small plots of land and had to farm other land for the lords too

These lords helped keep control of distant areas and ensure loyalty

WHAT CAUSED THE FALL OF THE ZHOU DYNASTY? Local rulers became too powerful, stopped

obeying the kings even in times of invasion 481 BC: Fighting breaks out between the

lords and continues for next 200 years. This is called the “Period of the Warring States”.

Fighting was brutal and cruel

WHAT WERE INTERNAL PROBLEMS DURING THE ZHOU DYNASTY? Bonds of loyalty within families began to

weaken, especially in upper classes Sons would fight each other over inheritance

of land Government lacked power to stop the

fighting Chinese society fell into disorder

WHO WAS CONFUCIUS? Wanted to improve China during the decline

of the Zhou Felt China was overrun by rude and dishonest

people Said people had to return to their ethics, or

moral values, and should know their role in society

WHAT WERE THE BASIC IDEAS OF CONFUCIANISM? Fathers should display high values to inspire

families Children need to respect their parents and

ancestors (filial piety) All family members should be loyal to each other Moral leadership brings order, not laws A king should lead by example Lower classes would learn by following superiors’

examples Confucius’ ideas were compiled into a book called

Analects Confucianism has influenced philosophy and

religion!

WHAT IS DAOISM? Wanted people to live in harmony with the

Dao, the guiding force of reality Unlike Confucianism, they believed

government should stay out of people’s lives Should not interfere with nature (“be like

water”) The universe is a balance of opposites Worshipped nature Give up desires and concerns People should not gain wealth or power Most important Daoist teacher: Laozi

WHAT IS LEGALISM? Founded by Han Fei Zi Taught that humans were naturally evil and

needed to be controlled No religious connection unlike Confucianism and

Daoism Believed there needed to be harsh laws and

punishments to force people to do their duty Relatives could be punished for another family

member’s crimes Wanted strong and efficient leaders to keep order,

not nobles Focused on expanded territory and always being

ready for war

BELL WORKHOMEWORK:TODAY’S TITLE:

SECTION 3: WHY WAS THE QIN EMPEROR’S GOVERNMENT STRONG? Shi Huangdi became ruler of China in 221 BC

and established the Qin dynasty Based his rule on the ideas of Legalism Made the central government stronger Unified China and conquered territory Created one currency for use of money Built roads and canals Began the building of the Great Wall to keep

out the Xiongnu (nomads from the Gobi Desert)

WHAT WERE SOME EXAMPLES OF SHI HUANGDI’S CRUELTY? Burned any books that did not support

Legalism Buried 460 scholars alive who disapproved of

the book burning After a city was conquered, he tore down its

walls and took all the weapons Took land away from nobles and made them

move Forced commoners to work on government

projects where they faced danger and death

WHAT WAS CHINA LIKE UNDER THE QIN? Shi Huangdi claimed all power Divided China into districts each with its own

governor Districts were subdivided into counties with

an appointed official This helped to enforce his tax system and a

strict chain of command

WHAT WERE SOME QIN POLICIES? Shi Huangdi set up a uniform law system (all

rules and punishments are the same throughout the empire)

Standardized the written language (had to write with the same exact system)

Standardized money system Standardized weight and measure systems Trade became much easier with all this

consistency Any disobedience against these systems

would result in harsh punishments

WHAT WERE SOME QIN ACHIEVEMENTS? Built a network of roads that connected the

capital to every part of the empire Helped the army move quickly and easily to

put down revolts Built canals to connect the rivers, which

made it easier to ship goods Improved irrigation system to aid farming Built the Great Wall to keep out northern

invaders (Pieces of the wall were actually started in the 600s BC, but Qin connected smaller pieces to each other to form one long wall)

PICTURES OF THE GREAT WALL

HOW DID THE QIN DYNASTY FALL? Shi Huangdi kept China unified After his death, the government began to fall

apart Rebel groups formed all over the country and

each claimed to have a mandate from heaven to replace the emperor

One group attacked the capital and overthrew the new emperor

With no central government, China fell into another period of civil war

SECTION 4: WHAT IS THE HAN DYNASTY’S GOVERNMENT LIKE UNDER LIU BANG? Founded in 202 BC by a peasant leader

named Liu Bang Earned the loyalty and trust of soldiers and

peasants Lowered taxes for farmers Made punishments less severe Gave land to supporters Relied on educated officials to advise him

WHAT WAS THE HAN DYNASTY’S GOVERNMENT LIKE UNDER WUDI? 140 BC: Emperor Wudi takes the throne Created a stronger central government Took land from lords Raised taxes Took control of grain supply Confucianism became the official government

philosophy Founded a Confucian university Government officials had to pass an exam and

have a recommendation to earn their job (rich families were mostly in control because of this policy)

HOW WAS SOCIETY ORGANIZED DURING THE HAN DYNASTY? Based on the Confucian system and was more

rigid 4 classes:

- Emperor, his court, and scholars with government positions

- Peasants (largest class)- Artisans- Merchants

Why did merchants fall in the lower class? Soldiers were not part of the system, but being

in the army could bring them an opportunity to rise up in class

LIVES OF THE RICH Classes only divided people by rank, not

wealth! Emperor lived in a palace and his officials

had large houses and estates Filled homes with expensive decorations and

loved to entertain Even their tombs were filled with luxury

items

LIVES OF THE POOR Consisted of 90% of the population Worked long hours on farming or building

projects Had to pay heavy taxes, which may have

forced them to give up their land to wealthy landowners

Wore simple clothing and ate simple diets Lived in small villages and wood-framed

houses

REVIVAL OF FAMILY Strong Confucian influence Children MUST respect their parents…IT WAS THE

LAW! Fathers had absolute power Women and children had to be obedient to the father Filial piety helped keep order because obedience had

been instilled in people since birth Children were encourage to serve parents and had to

honor dead relatives with ceremonies Boys were valued more highly than girls because they

would continue the family line and took care of the parents later

Older women could become the head of family if needed

WHAT WERE SOME HAN ACHIEVEMENTS? Figure painting Wrote poetry (the fu and shi styles) and histories Sundial Seismograph Waterwheels to grind grain Iron drill bits to mine more salt Steel Paper Medicine and disease prevention improved Acupuncture Rudders for ships and new kinds of sails allowed the

Chinese to trade with far off places like Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, India, and the Mediterranean Sea.

SECTION 5: HOW DID FARMING AND MANUFACTURING IMPROVE THE HAN DYNASTY? Became master ironworkers Made iron swords and armor that made the

army more powerful Made iron plows and the wheelbarrow to

increase farming productivity Silk- the method for making it was very hush-

hush and was expensive!

HOW DID TRADE IMPROVE? People outside of China valued Chinese

goods such as silk and pottery Gaining more territory in Central Asia helped

trade because it presented more opportunities to trade items such as silk

In return, the Chinese received better horses The creation of the Silk Road also improved

trade

THE SILK ROAD Most silk trade went overland by the Silk

Road- network of trade routes that stretched 4000 miles to the Mediterranean

The Road began to be used b/w 200 and 100 BC

China began to trade with the West and the Roman Empire

Silk, spices, tea, and porcelain were carried over in return for gold, silver, precious stones, and horses

Travel was difficult because of the heavy loads, geography, possibility of theft, and weather

MAP OF THE SILK ROAD

HOW DID BUDDHISM COME TO CHINA? Ideas were exchanged along with trade items Buddhist ideas came to China around 100 BC Han dynasty became unstable at this time and

Buddhism offered hope (sound familiar?) Offered rebirth and relief from suffering Buddhists used Daoism to explain Buddhism By AD 200, the emperor’s own palace had a

Buddhist altar Buddhism in China is an example of diffusion,

the spread of ideas from one culture to another Some elements of Chinese culture changed as

a result of Buddhist beliefs