Download China Notes section 1

Ch. ,
7 Section 1 - Geography and Early China, p. 182
Main Ideas
1. China’s physical geography made farming possible but travel and communication
difficult.
2. Civilization began in China along the Huang He and Chang Jiang rivers.
3. China’s first dynasties helped Chinese society develop and made many other
achievements.
Key Terms
Jade, p. 185 - a hard gemstone - semiprecious gemstone, usually green, but varies
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from white-ish to blue-green.
Oracle, p. 186 - a prediction - usually revealed by a priest or priestess, sometimes
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coming from objects, such as animal bones.
Map, p. 183
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China is divided primarily into 2 parts. The West is mostly high mountains (such
as the Himalayas) and dry plateaus (Tibetan Plateau). The East is mostly plains with
major rivers running through them to the sea (the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and
South China Sea). China is a bit larger than the continental United States. The 2 major
rivers are the Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River).
China’s Physical Geography p.182
Describe China’s major physical
features.
- is about 4 million square miles, about the
same size as the U.S.
- The Gobi Desert spreads out across China’s
northern border
- the plains covering most of eastern China are
one of the world’s largest farming regions
- China’s western border is made up of
mountains
- the southwestern border includes the Tibetan
Plateau and some of the world’s highest
mountains, including Mt. Everest
- the Qinling Shandi mountain range separates
northern and southern China.
What is China’s climate?
- dry and cold in the northeast,
- dry in the northwest,
- heavy rainfall in the eastern plains region,
- southeast is tropical, with up to 250 inches of
rain during the monsoon season.
What are the major rivers of China?
- the Huang He (Yellow River) runs over 3,000
miles across northern China.
- floods often, depositing rich silt, but also very
destructive.
- Sometimes called “China’s Sorrow” for the
millions of people who have died because of
flooding.
- the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) flows from
the mountains of Tibet to the Pacific through
southern China
- is the longest river in Asia
- rivers linked people in the west to people in the
east
- mountains between the rivers limited contact
between north and south.
Civilization Begins p. 184
What contributed to the
development of early Chinese
civilization?
- rich silt deposits along China’s two major rivers
made the land great for farming.
- heavy rains in the south allowed people to
grow rice
- drier weather in the north allowed people to
grow wheat and millet
- people also hunted wild animals and learned
to domesticate animals
- archaeological sites along the rivers show
people lived in villages and towns, sometimes
surrounded by walls for defense.
- by 3000 BC people were using potters’ wheels
to make different kinds of pottery
- people also dug wells for water
- early burial sites suggest a belief in an afterlife,
and tombs included items such as containers
for food and jewelry made from jade.
China’s First Dynasties p. 185
What was China’s first dynasty?
- the first dynasty was the Xia (SHAH) Dynasty,
founded by Yu the Great around 2200 BC.
- Stories tell of Yu’s efforts to control flooding in
northern China by digging channels to drain
the water to the ocean.
- The Chinese consider the legends about the
Xia Dynasty important because they show
kings and people working together.
What was China’s first real dynasty? - the Shang dynasty is the first proven dynasty,
established in the 1500s BC, along the Huang
He Valley.
- the capital moved several times because of
flooding
- The king was the center of society, with nobles
serving as counselors, minor government
officials, and religious positions
What was the social hierarchy of the
Shang dynasty?
- The royal family and nobles were at the top of
society, owning a lot of land and living in large
homes in cities. Warrior leaders were also in
the top class.
- The next level were the artisans, who lived in
groups based on what they made outside the
city walls. They were of middle importance in
society.
- Farmers made up the next level. They worked
long hours and were poor.
- In the lowest level were the slaves, who
provided all the labor in the Shang dynasty.
What were some Shang
developments and achievements?
- The Shang developed pictographs and
ideographs into the first writing system
- over 2000 symbols in the system
- many modern symbols are based on Shang
symbols
- Priests and kings used oracle bones to
predict the future.
- Shang artisans created containers from
bronze, and tools and jewelry from jade
- The Shang military created war chariots, bows,
and bronze body armor.
- Shang astrologers developed a calendar
based on the cycles of the moon.