Looking at the development of China during the Neolithic Period, describe the influence that isolation and fertile lands had on the culture of Yellow River civilizations and China in the future.
1. isolation allowed for a unique culture that was unique to the Chinese to develop
2. Lack of outside trade prevented foreign goods from altering Chinese progression
3. Fertile lands allowed for large populations by creating huge surpluses
4. Lack of interaction caused the Chinese people to become xenophobic for centuries
5. Lack of outside interference allowed them to spread throughout the region
The coastal region of China contain the best agricultural lands as well as access to the Pacific Ocean, making it much easier to live on rather than the interior of the country which is dominated by deserts and other harsh geographic features.
Many early civilizations developed irrigation systems to further take advantage of their river. This adaptation allowed these civilizations to grow and flourish.
The fertile soils along the Yellow river valley allowed the early peoples to grow enough food to increase their population.
Link for more info on the Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert in China has acted as a barrier to both invasion and cultural diffusion. China developed a very ethnocentric outlook due to their isolation. Contributing to this isolation are rainforest and mountains. The Gobi Desert has also forced most of China's people to live in the more fertile east, as no good farmland exists.
Zhou Dynasty (Video from Global 9 Regents)
The Zhou Dynasty- 1040-256 BC:
Zhou (Chou) Dynasty (feudal era & classical age; 8th-5th centuries BC - period of disorder; emergence of classical Chinese philosophies: Confucianism, Daoism) - Era of Warring States (475-221 BC)
Traditional Chinese Social Hierarchy
Qin Dynasty (Video from Global 9 Regents)
221-207 BC: Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty
“The Burning of the Books” in 213 BC
Legalism enthroned
Confucianism attacked
Autocracy
Great Wall of China
The terra cotta warriors guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huang in Xi'an, China.
206 BC-25 AD: Former Han Dynasty (beginnings of official state Confucianism)
25-220 AD: Later Han Dynasty (rise of Chinese Empire; imperial state religion; Confucianism established as the official philosophy of the Chinese state; the coming of Buddhism)
The civil service system
581-618 CE Sui Dynasty
Vocabulary
After almost one hundred years of foreign rule by the Mongols, the Ming seized power and setup their own dynasty in 1368 CE.
The Ming restored Confucian government and traditions to China.
They experienced an economic revival due to great achievements in agricultural production through better farming methods.
During the 1500’s, new crops brought over from the Americas, such as corn and sweet potatoes helped to increase food production. This resulted in over 100 million people in China during this time.
Ming industry thrived producing large amounts of porcelain,paper, and tools.
The canal system was renovated to increase trade and communication within China.
New methods of printing led to an abundance of books, and an increase in the literacy rate.
Voyages of Zheng He 1405 – 1433
Zheng He was a Chinese explorer that sailed along the coasts of S.E. Asia, India, and East Africa during the 15th century.
The Chinese established trade in these areas and spread their culture to the west. However, after Zheng He’s death in 1433, the Ming Emperor ordered all voyages stopped and trade with the outside world cut off. This was done to keep China free from foreign influence.
This limited China’s development and made them an easy target for the more advanced Europeans in the coming years.
Link to blank map of the Easterh Hemisphere (trace the voyages of Zheng He)
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Below are practice questions from recent regents exams
• Use a variety of evidence
• Analyze primary documents
• Compare societies and regions
1.These actions help historians reconstruct a record of a society by
(1-Ag 13)
(1) focusing on traditional interpretations
(2) making use of multiple perspectives
(3) separating history from science
(4) relying on a single argument
2. What would a geographer conducting research be most likely to
do? (2-Ag 13)
(1) use carbon-14 to determine the age of artifacts
(2) analyze the reasons women vote for certain candidates
(3) observe the effects of wind patterns on regional trade
(4) design a survey to determine the online spending habits of young
people
3. One way in which the ancient Sumerians, Egyptians, and Chinese
are similar is that these civilizations developed (3-Ag 13)
(1) irrigation systems (3) wheeled vehicles
(2) iron weapons (4) block printing systems
4 What was one reason for the decline of both the Han dynasty and
the western Roman Empire? #5-Ju 13)
(1) outbreak of war between religious groups
(2) inability to force back foreign invaders
(3) efforts of the middle class to gain power
(4) lack of a common currency
5. The restoration of Chinese rule, the voyages of Zheng He, and
the reintroduction of civil service examinations are all
associated with the (#16-Ju 13)
(1) Ming dynasty (3) Songhai Empire
(2) Abbassid dynasty (4) Delhi sultanate
6. Oracle bones, Daoism, and the Mandate of Heaven are all
associated with early civilizations in (# 5-Ja 13)
(1) Egypt (2) Russia (3) India (4) China
7. One important impact of the Mongol expansion across Asia and
Europe was the (#11 - Ja 13)
(1) increased authority of the Kievan princes
(2) rise in trade along the Silk Roads
(3) introduction of Hinduism into Chinese culture
(4) maritime exploration of the Arabian seacoast
8. What does a topographic map show?
(1) climate regions (3) patterns of trade
(2) ethnic distributions (4) physical features
9. Which geographic feature did the earliest civilizations in Egypt,
India, and China have in common?
(1) mountains that provided protection from invasion
(2) rivers that increased the fertility of the land by flooding
(3) vast forests that supplied lumber for building
(4) tropical climates that included monsoons
10. One way in which the people of the Tibetan kingdom and the
people of the Inca Empire are similar is that they
(1) developed coastal ports
(2) adapted mountainous terrains
(3) designed ships to conduct global trade
(4) introduced camel caravans as their primary form of
transportation
11. During the Ming dynasty, why did China enjoy a favorable balance
of trade with Europe? (#17 -Ag'11)
(1) The Ming dynasty imported numerous manufactured goods from
Europe.
(2) China exported large quantities of opium to European traders.
(3) Chinese silk continued to be in high demand in Europe.
(4) The Ming dynasty paid tribute to European traders.
12. What is one way in which animism, Shinto, and Daoism are
similar?
(1) emphasis on harmony with nature
(2) monotheistic belief systems
(3) belief in the idea of nirvana
(4) reliance on the teachings of the Vedas
13. Which areas did the Mongols conquer and incorporate into their
empire?
(1) China, Russia, and Iran
(2) Axum, Zimbabwe, and West Africa
(3) Spain, France, and Egypt
(4) Japan, India, and eastern Europe
14. Use of terracing is an example of a society's reaction to
(#2-Ag'11)
(1) religious beliefs
(2) social stratification
(3) geographic conditions
(4) political situations
15. Which philosophy is most closely associated with the
development of the Chinese civil service system?
(1) legalism (3) Daoism
(2) Buddhism (4) Confucianism
• Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan.
• India borders Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh.
• Most of China's major cities are in the eastern part of the
country.
16. Which type of map would be most helpful in verifying all this
information?
(1) political (3) land use
(2) climate (4) population density
• Keeping field notes from excavation sites
• Analyzing radiocarbon dating test results
• Examining and cataloging artifacts
17. Which social scientist directly engages in these activities?
(# 1 Ag'11)
(1) political scientist (3) historian
(2) archaeologist (4) sociologist
18. Which geographic feature has helped isolate China? (#5-Ag'11)
(1) Andes Mountains
(2) Kalahari Desert
(3) Himalaya Mountains
(4) Great Rift Valley
19. The rule of Shi Huangdi, legalism, and the tomb of terra cotta
soldiers are most closely associated with the (Ag'11)
(1) Maurya Empire (3) Persian Empire
(2) Qin dynasty (4) Hellenistic culture
20. Before the use of the Silk Road, how did geography affect early
China?
1. The mountains and deserts in western and southwestern China
slowed the exchange of ideas.
2. The northwestern region provided many fertile areas suitable
for farming.
3. The three major river systems provided barriers against
invasion.
4. The lack of deep-water ports on the eastern coast prevented
China from developing trade with other nations.
The technology of papermaking traveled from China to Baghdad along the
Saharan caravan trails
Trans-Siberian Railway
Silk Roads
Suez Canal
ca. 2100-1600 BCE
ca. 1600-1050 BCE
ca. 1046-256 BCE
221-206 BCE
Xia (Hsia) Dynasty
Shang Dynasty
Zhou (Chou) Dynasty
Western Zhou (ca. 1046-771 BCE)
Eastern Zhou (ca. 771-256 BCE)
Confucius (ca. 551-479 BCE)
Warring States Period
(ca. 475-221 BCE)
Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty
One of the Three Dynasties, or San Dai (Xia, Shang, and Zhou), thought to mark the beginning of Chinese civilization: characterized by its writing system, practice of divination, walled cities, bronze technology, and use of horse-drawn chariots.
Period of disunity and instability following the fall of the Han; Buddhism introduced to China
The reign of the Mongol empire; Capital: Dadu (present-day Beijing)
Re-establishment of rule by Han ruling house; Capitals: Nanjing and Beijing
Reign of the Manchus; Capital: Beijing
Capitals: Beijing, Wuhan, and Nanjing
Capital: Beijing
206 BCE-220 CE
220-589 CE
581-618 CE
618-906 CE
907-960 CE
960-1279
1279-1368
1368-1644
1644-1912
1912-1949
1949-present
Han Dynasty
Western/Former Han (206 BCE-9 CE)
Confucianism officially established as basis for Chinese state by Han Wudi (r. 141-86 BCE)
Eastern/Later Han (25-220 CE)
Six Dynasties Period
Three Kingdoms (220-265 CE)
Jin Dynasty (265-420 CE)
Period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589 CE)
Sui Dynasty
Tang (T'ang) Dynasty
Five Dynasties Period
Song (Sung) Dynasty
Northern Song (960-1127)
Southern Song (1127-1279)
Yuan Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
Qing (Ch'ing) Dynasty
Republic Period
People's Republic of China
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Copy these questions into Google Doc (your shared Global folder). Answer the questions in doc so that you have a copy of your responses, then copy and paste your responses into the Google form below.
Why was the Chou period a time of change and turmoil in China?
Why did Confucius think it was so important that people get along well together?
Why should the young obey the old?
Why did Confucius belief in a powerful emperor?
What did Chen think righteous behavior was?
China Reading How to Develop a Perfect Society
7. Which quotation from the teachings of Confucius is most similar to the Golden Rule from Judeo- Christian teaching? (q 7 Ju 03)
1) “If a ruler is upright, all will go well without orders.”
2) “By nature, men are pretty much alike. It is learning and practice that set them apart.”
3) “While a father or mother is alive, a son should not travel far.”
4) “Do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself.”