Travel Brochure for China By James Mackendrick Geography
Travel Brochure for China By James Mackendrick
Geography Mt. Everest § Mt. Everest is located in the Himalayas and is the highest mountain in the world. § Mt. Everest is 29, 029 feet in elevation. § For China the Himalayas (the mountain range where Mt. Everest is located) acted as a barrier for invaders. Mt. Everest and all the other mountains in the Himalayas protected China in the South. § This was one of the many geographical features that protected China from invaders. The Yellow River §The Yellow River is the 2 nd longest river in the world and is the 6 th longest river in China §The Yellow river and the Yangzi River were connected by a canal that was built when emperor Wen Di was in power §The yellow river greatly improved trade and transportation by boat. §The yellow river also fertilized nearby land for growing vegetation and crops. Taklamakan Desert §The Taklamakan desert is the worlds 17 th largest desert and is china’s largest desert. §At night in winter the Taklamakan desert can get as cold as negative four degrees. §The Taklamakan desert is between the plateau of Tibet and the Tian mountains. The Taklamakan desert acted as a double layer protection from invaders. If the Invaders were lucky enough to cross the Tian mountains they would then face the long journey through the harsh Taklamakan desert. §The Taklamakan desert is nicknamed the “sea of death” because of the constant moving of the sand dunes due to the wind.
A runner’s cart A Chinese junk ship Economy The act of being promoted and demoted in China was very popular and was called a meritocracy. In China in the Tang and Song dynasties the government built a series of waterways and roads for official inspectors, tax collectors, and messengers to travel. By the later 700 s there were relay hostels or inns that served food and had horses that were located along all main roads. Runners were very popular as they were relied upon to carry government mail and food. In China there was a growing amount of boats so the government built more canals and waterways. Merchants would string coins that had holes in the middle into a long string called a cash. Trading in cashes was much easier and many traders used this technique to trade. Cashes were very heavy so it sparked the idea of paper money. In 1024 the Song government made the first paper money. Paper money became so popular that it was the most common item in exchange for goods thus creating a money economy and a rapidly increasing size in the merchant class. Emperor Zheng He, an aristocrat launched several sea voyages to the Middle East and Africa. After the voyages the emperors then decided to cancel the voyages in 1433 because they thought that the other countries had nothing to offer China and they outlawed Chinese subjects leaving the country by sea. The Portuguese were the first European ship to reach China. The Chinese then let them set up a trading station. While other European ships reached China they were given certain areas along the coast.
Religions Buddhism was based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Buddhism originated in India in 530 B. C. The reason that it was so popular in China was because it promised escape from suffering. Buddha taught that life was a cycle of death and rebirth and pleasure and sorrow. Buddhism also taught that suffering was caused by paying too much attention to material things. Buddhism also taught that you could reach enlightenment by not wanting or craving anything and through meditation. Buddha taught that enlightenment is the main goal and once there you will not continue the cycle of life but help others reach enlightenment. Confucianism is based on the teachings of Confucius. Confucianism encourages proper conduct, respect for elders, education, and government service. Confucianism is based on the five relationships which are ruler and subject, parent and child, husband wife, sibling and sibling, and friend. Confucius believed that people should always be faithful, honest, obedient, and courteous. Confucius strongly believed in karma. Confucianism teaches people to treat people the way they would want to be treated. Confucius believes that if someone wants respect they have to give respect. Confucius encouraged having an education and becoming a scholar. Similarities Buddhism and Confucianism both teach the ways to a better life. Buddhism teaches ways to reach enlightenment and Confucianism teaches ways to an overall better life, but they both try to improve life for others. They both believe in karma and that there is no such thing as luck. They also both believe in hard work for example Buddhism believes that you have to earn your way towards enlightenment and Confucianism believes that you have to earn respect. Another popular religion was Daoism which taught to live peacefully with nature.
Chinese Achievements Chinese paper currency First clock Spinning wheel Abacus Gunpowder
Chinese Achievements Gunpowder was invented during the Tang dynasty in 850 A. D. At first the Chinese only used gunpowder for amusement and fireworks. Later gunpowder was used in weapons to fight off the Mongols. The Chinese made cannons, explosive arrows, land mines, and flamethrowers. Paper Money Paper money was first made in 1024 by the Song government. For merchants carrying thousands of coins it was becoming too heavy and so the Song government came up with the idea of paper money. Paper money was more practical than heavy coins. Paper money started a money economy in China. Clock The oldest clock dates back to 6 th century B. C. Clocks were very important in China considering that time depended on their study of astronomy and astrology. The first clock was powered by water and was three stories high. Spinning Wheel The spinning wheel was invented in 1035 for the high demand in silk. The spinning wheel took the silk thread from the silkworm and turned them into silk clothe. The wealthy were very fond of silk because of how soft it was and the high price of it. Abacus The abacus was invented in 100 A. D. and was perfected in the 1300’s. The abacus is a counting device that was used for math. Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing could all be done very quickly on the abacus. The abacus became very popular all over china.
TIMELINE Tang Dynasty 618 -907 Yuan Dynasty 1271 -1368 Qing Dynasty 1644 -1911 Han Dynasty 206 BCE-220 BCE Sui Dynasty 581 -618 Song Dynasty 960 -1279 Ming Dynasty 1368 -1644
- Slides: 7