Lesson 19: Geography & the Early Settlement of China

How did geography affect life in ancient China?

The physical geography of mainland East Asia had a dramatic effect on the settlement of ancient China. In the southwestern part of the region, the Himalaya Mountains prevented settlement. A high plateau lies north of these mountains. Because of its awe-inspiring elevation, this region has been called the “roof of the world.” The weather is extremely cold here all year round. To the north of this plateau lies desert land, where temperatures are too hot in summer and too cold in winter to make it a good place for people to live. Some groups did roam the area, raising livestock and moving from place to place, but life was hard for them.

Geography of Ancient China

The Yellow River

To the east of this hostile land, the land is much more moderate. Hills, valleys, and plains are easy to navigate. Rivers provide fertile land for farming. Even the weather is milder, without the extremes of the western part of the country. For these reasons, most ancient Chinese chose to make their homes in this area. Over time, villages developed. Because of China's physical boundaries, including mountains and deserts, the Chinese civilization developed in isolation for thousands of years.

The stability of early villages allowed empires to arise. Powerful leaders unified the country. Advances in civilization allowed empires to conquer more and more territory. The most advanced of these empires, the Han, opened ancient China to trade relations with other cultures to the west. Camel caravans traveled a 4,000-mile-long route known as the Silk Road. From the Huang He (Yellow River) in China, the route extended all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. As people, goods, and ideas traveled back and forth along the Silk Road, the rest of the world soon learned of the achievements of the ancient Chinese.

Mr. Nicky Ancient China Song

Summary:

Outer China This area includes three regions in the western and northern parts of modern China: the Tibet-Qinghai, or Tibetan, Plateau; the Northwestern Deserts (the Taklimakan and the Gobi); and the Northeastern Plain. This area's features—high mountains, a cold and rocky plateau, and large deserts—isolated Inner China.

Inner China This area includes two regions in the southeastern part of modern China: the North China Plain and the Chang Jiang Basins. The plain has the best conditions for farming.

Early Settlement and Isolation Archaeologists have found remains of what may be the first inhabitants of China. These hunter-gatherers lived in caves more than 500,000 years ago. Later, farmers established the first permanent settlements on the North China Plain, near the Huang He, or Yellow River. Harsh geography and vast distances isolated these early inhabitants.

Different Regions and Ways of Life Because of a lack of farmland, most settlers in Outer China were nomads and herders. In Inner China, people farmed and raised animals in permanent settlements. Farmers in the Chang Jiang Basins grew rice.

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