Ancient World Geography of China's River Valley: The Chinese Dragon and Climate Patterns

1. Chapter 5 Section 1 Ancient World Geography of China’s River valley

2. The Chinese Dragon • A respected spirit, and a friendly beast that brought good luck. • Responsible for the rains that made the fields fertile. 1

3. Dragon Rain Ceremony

4. Climate of North China Plain • Short, but intense, rainy season brought on by the monsoon winds. • Remainder of the year is very dry 2

5. Climate of Southeast China • In the south it is warm and wet • Monsoons from South China Sea bring heavyrains from March to September • Light rains the rest of the year. 2

6. The Middle Kingdom • Mountains and seas separated China from the other great civilizations of Egypt, Rome, Greece etc. • Chinese saw themselves as the centerof the world and called themselves the Middle kingdom. 3

7. Civilizations along Rivers • Why did early civilizations in China arise along rivers? • China’s rivers overflowed and brought rich topsoil to the land. • Topsoil called Loess 4

8. The Forbidden City

9. The Chang River (Yangtze) 5 Longest river in China and third longest in the world.

10. The 2nd longest river in China The Huang River ( Yellow River) 6

11. Huang River

12. Grain crop of The North China Plain Millet - Gluten-free with a slightly nutty flavor 7

13. China’s Sorrow When the Huang floods it can kill millions of people Flooding is controlled by a system of Dikes The build up of Loess (silt), has caused the river bottom to rise above the surrounding land in some areas. 8 & 9

14. Loess Plateau is Shaded Highly erosion-prone soil

15. The Huang valley • Farming began in the Huang valley around 5,000 years ago. 10

16. The Shang Dynasty • Dynasty - A series of rulers from the same family or ethnic group. • Arose around 1760 B.C. • Built China’s first cities • Produced fine bronze work • Produced the first Chinese system of writing. (Written language the same even though there are many different languages.) 11& 12

17. Turtle shell showing one of the earliest examples of Chinese writing. Bronze wine vessel from the Shang dynasty

18. The Zhou Dynasty • Conquered the Shang Dynasty about 1122B.C. • Ruled for almost 1,000 years • The Qin took over China after the Zhou Dynasty • Mandate of Heaven - Chinese believed that rulers came to power because it was their destiny. 13 & 14

19. Chinese Families • More important than the individual or nation • The extended family was the norm. As many as five generations lived together. • How does this compare to American families today? 15

20. Nuclear Family • a woman and/or husband and dependent children 16

21. Extended Family • A family consisting of parents and children, along with either grandparents, grandchildren, aunts or uncles. Most common in ancient China. 16

22. Chinese Family Authority • Age and sex determined status • Oldest man had most power • He decided who his children and grandchildren would marry. • He punished disrespectful children • Upon his death his land was divided among his sons 18 & 19

23. Women in Early China • Considered of lower status than men. • Were bound by three obediences. • Obey their fathers in youth • Their husbands in marriage • Their sons in widowhood Guided by four virtues.Morality proper speech modesty domestic skills 20 &21

24. Family Names • Some common family names are Mao, Chan and Lu • In China the family name is spoken first followed by your first name. • For example: Thomas Jefferson would be Jefferson Thomas. 22