China’s Geography How did China’s geography contribute to its isolation?
I. Geographical Facts a. background
1. larger than US 2.varied physical geography
- world’s highest mountains - huge deserts - fertile plains - tundra
b. climate 1. tundra to tropics 2.north/south divide
- N. China- long cold winters, short hot summers
- S. China- warm year round- long growing season and monsoons
II. The “Middle Kingdom” a. China saw itself as the center of the civilized
world (b/c of geographic isolation) 1. East- Pacific Ocean 2.West- Takla Makan Desert and Plateau
of Tibet 3. Southwest- Himalayas 4. North- Gobi Desert (and fear of Mongols)
b. Unique language, philosophies, and cultural beliefs
c. North China Plain: “Cradle of Chinese Civilization” 1. Valleys between Yellow and Yangtze
Rivers 2.Fertile area ringed by hills and
mountains 3. 90% of China’s ARABLE land is in NCP
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