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Geography/China

Geography/China. Major Geographic Features: 1. Surrounded by a variety of natural barriers that has allowed China to be isolated over most of their history. a.The Gobi Desert to the north (cold and dry) b.The Himalayans to the south west c. The Tibetan Plateau to the west

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Geography/China

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  1. Geography/China • Major Geographic Features: • 1. Surrounded by a variety of natural barriers that has allowed China to be isolated over most of their history. • a.The Gobi Desert to the north (cold and dry) • b.The Himalayans to the south west • c.The Tibetan Plateau to the west • d. Rainforests to the south

  2. 2. Rivers: • a.Huang (Yellow River); the start of China’s first civilizations. Called the yellow river due to the silt carried downstream • b.Chang (Yangtze River); the busiest river for trade. Present site of the Three Gorges Dam project to control the flooding. • The Grand Canal: Although man made it is one of the most important waterways for trade and irrigation. It links the Yellow and Yangtze rivers.

  3. Ancient Civilization/China Shang Dynasty: 1600 B.C. Their major contribution was a system of writing. The Chinese system of writing includes tens of thousands of characters, and is very difficult to learn. The ancient Chinese system of writing used pictographs, or drawings of objects, and ideographs, lines that represent ideas.

  4. Zhou Dynasty: 1122-256 B.C. A revolution started against the Shang leader. They created the Mandate of Heaven as the excuse to overthrow the government. Mandate of Heaven (Son of Heaven) The belief that God gave the leader the right to rule, but if the ruler doesn’t do a good job the people can rebel.

  5. How do you know if the Gods don’t want you to rule anymore? • If there are problems in the country like famine, plague, and hardship, then the people can rebel. • As a result the Zhou had the right to overthrow the government because those problems were happening to the Shang. • Achievements • First to use Iron

  6. Adopted Confucianism to help unite the country, this Philosophy helped to unite people with a common set of beliefs. • Began Feudalism – Helped rule country • Feudalism is when land owners are in direct control of their property. • The landowners make their own rules and have their own military to enforce rules • If society is Feudal it lacks a Central government • A lack of central government is a problem, it means that they are not united as one people

  7. Qin Dynasty: 221-206 B.C. unified China for the first time. Their leader named himself the First Emperor The Qin are sometimes called the Ch'in, which is probably where the name China originated. They used many new technologies in warfare, especially cavalry.

  8. The Qin made many changes that were meant to unify China. • The empire was divided up in 36 territories which were then subdivided into counties. • These territories had a civil governor, a military commander, and an imperial inspector. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUJr1Y2PNPI&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYCM64KTRX8&feature=related

  9. He used a Legalist form of government, it involved rewards and punishments to keep order. It was a strict society!! • Confucianism was banned! All old writings were destroyed! • Also, the state had absolute control over the people, and the nobility lost all of their power. • The nobility were also forced from their homes and moved to the capital. (keep your friends close and your enemies closer) and their land was split among the peasants.

  10. He sent spies (inspectors) to check on officials throughout the country. • Promoted standardized coins to guarantee that all money in China would be equal, this promoted trade. • Built the city of XIAN, it became the wealthiest city in the ancient world, it was the start of the Silk Road. The greatest trade route in the Ancient World.

  11. China's Most Honourable City (Ancient Xi'an) • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA_6wzezoZQ

  12. Many public works projects were also undertaken. • A Great Wall was built in the north, to protect against invasions. Roads and irrigation canals were built throughout the country. • Despite all of these accomplishments, the Emperor was not a popular leader. The public works and taxes were too great a burden to the population. • The Qin rule came to an end shortly after the First Emperor's death. He ruled for 37 years, when he died suddenly in 210 B.C. a revolution broke out and his son was kicked out of power. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTY7yJ7JWFU&feature=related

  13. Han Dynasty: 206 B.C. – 220 A.D. Ended Legalism returned to Confucianism This made the people happy, they were tired of the strict Legalist government. Began trade with the west to obtain horses, resulted in what was known as the “silk road” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LowP8zYHDYA&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUaz-xoMmPA&feature=related Began “civil service” exams, positions in government are now awarded by merit (people took tests, the highest scores got the jobs) not family status (meaning the rich). This allowed people from all classes to feel that they had an opportunity for social mobility. It is one of the greatest achievements in China’s history!!!

  14. This becomes one of the most important reasons for the success of China. • Education and schools become part of Chinese culture. • It was the only civilization in the Ancient world that placed an importance on education!!!! • Invented paper leading to an increase in the vast amount of literature produced during this era. • Developed the rudder • the creation of the wheelbarrow • Stirrups were also believed to have been used first during this time. • http://totallyhistory.com/the-invention-of-paper/

  15. The invention of cast iron tools can also be credited to the people of the Han dynasty. • This resulted in vastly improved weapons, tools and domestic wares. • it paved the way for the creation of new agricultural tools • Credited for inventing the loom, set the tone for silk weaving during that era. It was because of their invention that silk could be marketed as an expensive piece of article. • Their science of weaving also paved the way for the creation of the Silk Road. • http://totallyhistory.com/silk-road-history/

  16. Han Inventions • http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/djm/Ancient_Civilizations/china/contributions.htm • Chinese inventions • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx-x7BrgjSA

  17. Fall of Han Dynasty Wars and large armies put an enormous burden on the economy. Nomads in the north and near the Korean Peninsula destroyed the Chinese settlements The land became overpopulated, and thousands were forced into banditry or even selling their children as slaves. The Huns were one of the groups that attacked China. Government officials became increasingly corrupt.

  18. Sui Dynasty: 581-619 ad. Officials were chosen on merit rather than by birth, The Emperor held regular examinations to select able people, this ended corruption In order to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, the Sui used the "land equalization system". Took land from the wealthy and gave it to the poor. At the same time, the government unified the coins, took over making money, and standardized weights and measures. The Sui Dynasty re-established contact with foreign nations by reopening the Silk Road.

  19. Lost power due to spending on his palace, and lost wars.

  20. T’ang Dynasty: 618-907 ad. • Much of their power was made possible through the canals built by the Sui. • These canals allowed for communications to all parts of the empire. • Also, the granaries the Sui built alongside the canals helped the T’ang to transport goods from the south to the north. • This especially was important in the transfer of rice to the north in times of famine.

  21. T’ang Dynasty: 618-907 ad. • The T’ang implemented a program where they gave plots of land to the peasant families. • This was supposed to be an equal distribution of the land. • The T’ang wanted to ensure that the families had enough land to both support themselves and to pay taxes. • This was a Golden Age for China

  22. T’ang Dynasty:Inventions the first printer was invented. fireworks were invented Ceramics also made a great improvement for storing food and drinks They traded with, India, the Middle East, and Byzantium. They improved the compass BIG MISTAKE WAS FORCING BUDDHIST MONKS OUT OF THE COUNTRY

  23. The compass First printer Ceramics

  24. Song Dynasty: 960-1279 ad. (Neo-Confucianism) a combination of Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism came to dominate the empire during the Song Dynasty the invention of gunpowder The world's first Printing with movable type, magnetic compass and calculator (the abacus) were invented. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpqUsyMeds4

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