Ancient China Geography Geographical Features of China North

Ancient China Geography

Geographical Features of China • North • Gobi Desert • West • Taklimakan Desert • Mountain Ranges • Himalaya • The Pamir • Tian Shan • East • Yellow Sea • East China Sea • Pacific Ocean

China’s Rivers Huang He River Chang Jiang • Located in the North • Located in central China • Known as Yangtze • Known as the Yellow • 3 rd longest river in the world River • Helped with farming • Yellowish silt • Known as China’s sorrow* • Levees** • Farming was done between the rivers. • Northern China Plain

Climate • Varied • Similar to the United States • Western: Dry • Northern: Cold/Dry* • South East: Wet**

Shang Dynasty • 1766 B. C. began to control cities • Developed along Yellow River • Controlled central portions of N. China Plain • Relatives ruled distant areas • Used chariots to defend kingdom • They went to war with nomads • Family and religion closely tied • Paid respect by making animal sacrifices*

Developing Language Oracle Bones Pictographs

Dynastic Cycle Frequent pattern of ancient China • Zhou kings believed that trouble with the rulers meant that the gods were not in favor of them • Mandate of Heaven: When a ruler was foolish the approval of the gods were taken away. .

Zhou Dynasty Defeated Shang around 1027 B. C. • Ruler Wu Wang lead the force that defeated Shang • Did not have a strong central government • Kings put family or other trusted people in charge of surrounding regions*

Warring States • Invasion of Chinese land was a reoccurring theme • After 800 B. C. Nomads from the North and West invaded China • 771 B. C invaders destroyed the capital city Hao and killed the king* • Family escaped and set up a new capital in Luoyang • Lead to the period known as the Warring States (403 B. C. )

Overview: • Rivers helped with the rise of China Civilization • Natural barriers isolated China • Huang He/Yellow River was also known as China’s Sorrow • Shang Dynasty was the first family to rule • Shang developed system of writing from oracle bones and pictographs • Zhou took control by using the idea of the Mandate of Heaven