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Explore the diverse geographic regions of ancient China, including Outer China's harsh deserts and rocky plateaus and Inner China's fertile plains. Discover how early settlers navigated natural barriers and adapted to their environments, from nomadic life to established agriculture. Uncover the significance of major rivers like the Yellow River and Yangtze in shaping Chinese civilization. Learn about the isolation and distinct lifestyles of people in different regions, from nomadic herders in the Northwest to rice farmers in the Southeast.
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Outer China - includes western & northern parts (Tibet-Qinhai Plateau, two deserts, & low hills/plains in the northeast) Inner China - includes southeastern part of China (North China Plain & Chang Jiang Basins)
Tibet-Qinghai Plateau • Rocky land surrounded by towering mountains – average elevation is 2 miles above sea level • Climate is very cold – air is thin & dry • China’s major rivers begin in this area - Huang He (Yellow River) - Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) • Difficult to live here because of bad climate & challenging terrain
Northwestern Deserts • Harsh places to live & difficult to travel • Summers are sizzling hot while winters are below freezing • Only places to grow crops or raise animals are near oases (where water is found) Talamakan Desert – 105,000 sq. miles - very dangerous because of shifting sand dunes & sandstorms Gobi Desert – 500,000 sq. miles - has few sand dunes, most of desert is stony
Natural Barriers for China Above - Tibetan-Qinghai Plateau Right – Gobi Desert Above – Taklamakan Desert
Northeastern Plain • Land of low hills & plains • Vegetation is mostly prairie grass • Two main rivers 1. Liao – shallow river 2. Sungari – deeper • Short/warm summers & cold/dry winters • In south, a narrow plain links this area to rest of China – invaders used this to get to Inner China
North China Plain • Flat region of grassland in Inner China • “Land of Yellow Earth” – ground covered by yellow limestone silt • Huang He (Yellow River) is one of the longest rivers in the world – also very muddy • River has been good & bad for Chinese Good – silt fertilizes the land for farming Bad – flooding causes much damage & loss of life
Chang Jiang Basins • Low, wet coastal plains located along Chang Jiang River • River is longer than Huang He with many tributaries(streams that feed into rivers) • River is good for: - trading - farming
China’s Famous Rivers Chang Jiang River/Yangtze River Also known as the “Long River” Huang He/Yellow River
Early Settlement & China’s Isolation • Remains of the first inhabitants were found in northeastern China in the 1920s • When Chinese began farming, they settled mostly on North China Plain in Inner China • China’s geography kept it very isolated - mountains, rocky plateau, & cold weather in southwest - deserts in northwest - only narrow coastal plain linked northeastern China to Inner China
Life in Outer China • People living in Tibetan Plateau, the Northwestern Deserts, & the Northeastern Plains were mostly nomadic • Raised livestock like yaks, sheep, goats, cattle, & horses • Grew some crops like cotton, winter wheat, & maize (a type of corn)
Life in Inner China • People grew wheat & millet (type of grain) • Raised cattle, sheep, oxen, pigs, & chickens – also herded water buffalo & horses • People built permanent homes • Rice thrived in the warm, wet areas of the Chang Jiang Basins
