Geography of Ancient China

Ancient China

We Will Study Ancient China from the Prehistoric Era to the Fall of the Han Dynasty

Day 1 - Chinese Geography

6.31 - Identify and locate geographical features of ancient China, including: Gobi Desert, Plateau of Tibet, Himalaya Mountains, Yangtze River, Pacific Ocean, Yellow River.

6.32 - Analyze the influence of geographic features on the origins of ancient Chinese civilization in the Yellow River Valley, and explain how China’s geography helped create a unique yet diverse cultural identity that was isolated from the rest of the world.

What landforms made the region that became Ancient China a suitable place for a civilization to begin?

What landforms must be present for a civilization to exist?

• River valleys for farming

• Natural resources that help with construction and trade

• Ideally, landforms that help protect the people from invasion.

Chinese Geography

China is a large country (3rd largest in the world. However, the mountains, deserts, and ocean that surround China kept it very isolated from other cultures and civilziations for a long time.

The Himalayan Mountains to the southwest, Gobi Desert to the north, and Pacific Ocean to the east kept China very isolated and protected

Watch the video on the next slide and prepare for the short quiz that follows.

Pay attention to the landforms that helped China develop and what each dynasty mentioned created in China. There will be a quiz over it later.

Multiple Choice

What civilization lies to the southwest of China beyond the Himalayan Mountains?

• Egypt

• Mesopotamia

• India

• Israel

Multiple Choice

Using the map, and your knowledge from the video, which of the following would be true about the Plateau of Tibet?

• It makes it difficult to get from China to Mongolia

• The entire plateau is in a high elevation.

• Most of China's food is grown there.

• It is the location of the Great Wall

Multiple Select

Select the two rivers that make agriculture (farming) possible in China.

• Huang He (Yellow River)

• Indus River

• Ganges River

• Yangzi River

• Jordan River

Multiple Choice

China's two main rivers flow into the Yellow Sea which is a part of what ocean according to the map?

• Pacific Ocean

• Atlantic Ocean

• Indian Ocean

• Arctic Ocean

Multiple Select

Which of the following were advancements made by the Shang Dynasty?

• The Great Wall

• Silk making and silk culture

• First writing system

• Paper making

• Standard weights and currency.

Multiple Select

Which of the following were advancements made by the Qin?

• The Great Wall

• Silk making and silk culture

• First writing system

• Paper making

• Standard weights and currency

Multiple Select

Which of the following were advancements made by the Han Dynasty?

• The Great Wall

• Silk making and silk culture

• First writing system

• Paper making

• Standard weights and currency.