China- Geography

China is located on the continent of Asia. The first civilization began on the Huang He (Yellow River) River to the north and was called the "Cradle of Chinese Civilization" and also "China's Sorrow." The Yangtze River was to the south. These major rivers were a great source of fresh water, food, fertile soil, and transportation. The geography of Ancient China shaped the way the civilization and culture developed. China was isolated by: dry deserts to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the east, impassable Himalayan Mountains to the south This enabled the Chinese to develop independently from other world civilizations.

Early History

Humans probably reached East Asia between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. Historians believe farming began in China about 7,000 BC. The first crops grown were a grain called millet and rice. Farming created more food, which increased population and allowed people to do different jobs (division of labor) besides constantly looking for food. Eventually, people needed leaders to organize irrigation and store food. Families that controlled land and irrigation became powerful. So, civilization developed in China the same way it developed in Egypt, India and Mesopotamia.

Social Order

The emperor was at the top. Scholars were respected above everyone else because they could read and write. Peasant farmers were important because the country depended on them to produce food. -Artisans (people who worked with their hands) were next because they used their skills to make things that everyone. Merchants were at the bottom. They were not as valued because they didn’t make anything. dynasty- a series of rulers from the same family lords- people of high rank peasants- farmers with small farms silk- a soft, light,and highly valued fabric developed in China

Language

The ancient Chinese used characters and symbols as their written language. These are drawn using calligraphy.

Government

Type of government- monarchy (lead by either emperor or a king)- The Forbidden City was the palace of the Chinese emperors. Emperors based their government on the Confucian model, which taught that the best ruler was a virtuous man who led by example. Legalism, developed by Hanfeizi, was the philosophy which taught that people were basically evil. Daoists- believed that the best government was the one that governed least. The Shang were the first rulers of China. Wu Wang led a revolt against the wealthy of the Shang dynasty. The Zhou dynasty ruled longer than any other in China.

Trading Systems

They traded goods with other cultures. They used metal coins in bartering. Silk was traded for other goods or services as they traveled the "Silk Road." Some of their inventions were: kites, silk cloth, fireworks, compass, and bronze.

Architecture

The Great Wall of China -around 5,500 miles long, built to help keep out northern invaders like the Mongols, had watchtowers, beacon towers to send signals, and blockhouses to house soldiers

Religion

Warring States Era- influenced the development of philosophy and religion to help create a peaceful society. The ancient Chinese are said to have three doctrines:

Confucianism-philosopher Confucius based his teachings on ethics (moral values)

Buddhism-religion based on teachings of Buddha (enlightened one); based on the four noble truths

Taoism-stressed living in harmony with the Tao(the guiding force of all reality)

In the Shang Dynasty (about 2000 BC), people in China worshipped a lot of different gods - weather gods and sky gods - and also a higher god who ruled over the other gods, called Shang-Ti. People who lived during the Shang Dynasty also believed that their ancestors - their parents and grandparents - became like gods when they died, and that their ancestors wanted to be worshipped too, like gods. Each family worshipped their own ancestors. Filial piety is children’s respect for parents and older relatives.

Other important accomplishments:

-roads and waterways stimulated trade

-pass a civil service exam to work in government

-inventions: seismograph, gunpowder, paper, woodblock printing, and the compass

-artistic expression in poetry, porcelain, painting and calligraphy