Ancient China

1. Ancient China Learning about it’s importance and history By: Miss George

2. Let’s Find Out about China! http://www.brainpopjr.com/socialstudies/ancienthistory/ancientchina/ Brain Pop Jr.!

3. Where is China Located?

4. China has 2 major rivers that are important to the agriculture of China. Yellow River and, Yangtze River. Important Rivers in China

5. The rivers in China are important because they help provide China with a water source to help grow crops. • The region drained by the Yangtze River is also known as South China. • It is hillier than North China. The region is also warmer and more humid, this is perfect conditions for crops like rice and tea. Yangtze River

6. In North China the land is mostly flat and the Yellow River provides the water and minerals needed for crops. The soil in North China is good for crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. Yellow River

7. Rice Crops

8. China has deserts!

9. It is approximately 500,000 square miles Gobi is a very cold desert yet it rarely snows. It is located above sea level. Fifth largest desert in the world To survive in Gobi desert, the plants have to lose their leaves until it rains again. They are gifted with long roots that absorb water. Animals get their water from the food they eat, and come out at night. Gobi Desert “Waterless Place”

10. China has many mountain ranges. The most famous mountains that boarder China are known as the Himalaya’s. Within the Himalayan mountains is the highest mountain in the world known as Mt. Everest! China has Mountains!

11. Himalayan Mountains

12. Architecture of China The design of buildings

13. Temple roofs were curved because the Buddhist believed that it helped ward off evil spirits. The curved part of the roof can be seen in much of the architecture all around China. Pagodas and Architecture

14. Pagodas

15. The building of the Great Wall of China is the most significant event in Ancient Chinese history and occurred during the Qin dynasty. It was built to protect the Chinese empire and is known as the “longest structure ever built” The Great Wall of China

16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26dwkKQ6EHE The Great Wall Expands Over 4,000 Miles!

17. Important inventions from ancient China Paper Calendar BronzeWriting Compass Kites Gunpowder and Fireworks

18. Paper is a very important invention made by the Ancient Chinese. Papermaking first occurred in A.D. 105 during the Tang dynasty by a man named CaiLun who was the head of the imperial workshops. The first type of paper was made from silk rags, and later paper was made from fibrous materials such as bamboo, mulberry bark, and hemp. This later “paper was thick and spongy,” which resembles cloth more than modern paper Paper Making

19. It was during the Shang Dynasty that a system of writing was invented. This writing is called calligraphy. The Chinese perfected their calligraphy using a brush and paint on paper . After inventing the use of calligraphy as an art form, the Chinese perfected painting and creating symbols or characters that represented words in order to communicate with one another. Writing and Calligraphy

20. Tortoise Shell Symbols Ancient Chinese Writing

21. The Chinese also invented a form of printing with blocks, called block printing. Movable type in printing was invented during the Song Dynasty. Movable Chinese characters were carved from wood, which could be arranged as needed and even reused. The adoption of paper and printing technology in China lead to the spread of knowledge among the Chinese. Print Making

22. Bronze Pot Facts: During Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, bronze production peaked. Bronze was used to make musical instruments, weapons, and containers. Around 2000 BC, people in China learned how to make bronze out of tin and copper, it is now called the Bronze Age.

23. Bronze!

24. The earliest Chinese kites were made of wood. They were calledmuyuan or wooden kites. • After the invention of paper, kites began to be made of this new material called zhiyuan or paper kites. • During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), people began to fix on kites some bamboo strips which, when high in the air, would vibrate and ring in the breeze like a stringed instrument or a zheng. K I T E S

25. Kites!

26. Compass! The first compass was not used for sailing but for religious rituals in order to find a place to burry people. They were also used for town planning to make sure that all of the houses faced in the right direction that was in harmony with nature. The compass is a very important invention from Ancient China. The spoon is of magnetic lodestone, and the plate is of Bronze. The circular center represents Heaven, and the square plate represents Earth. The handle of the spoon points south.

27. Gunpowder that was discovered by Chinese Alchemists during the Song dynasty in the 8thcentury. These alchemists were also known as Daoists, or priests, who discovered gunpowder by accident. This discovery was made when a mixture exploded when they were attempting to create a potion that prolonged life. By the 10th century gunpowder was used by the Ancient Chinese to make fireworks and weapons. Ancient China’s discovery of gunpowder led to major changes in warfare during this time period. Gunpowder and Fireworks

28. Gunpowder and Fireworks!