China

Geography

1. The mountain range that separates the Huang and Chang River valleys is called the Qinling Shandi.

2. Rice is the leading farm product in the south and central part of China, where rainfall is plentiful. Wheat is the principal crop of northern China.

3. China Proper is the smallest and most historically significant section - the heart of China - and stretches from the eastern seacoast inland.

4. The three great river systems that wind through China Proper are the Huang, Chang, and Xi.

5. The Huang River has a yellow tint from the fertile soil of the river valley, which is called loess. The Chinese word for yellow is "huang", which gives the river its name.

6. While the Chinese did adopt some skills and idea from other peoples, China's geographic isolation helped it to develop a distinct Chinese culture.

Dynasties

Shang Dynasty

1. Neolithic people lived in the Huang valley around 2200 BC.

2. Invaders from the North, the Shang, invaded around 1500 BC and Chinese culture began.

3. Shang rulers created a complex bureaucracy - a government organized into different levels and tasks. Today's civil service.

4. Shang dynasty developed a writing system of special symbols called characters. Each character represents a word. A style became known as calligraphy.

From Ode of Mulan by [Mi Fei] [Mei Fei] (aka Mi Fu)

By [Wu Ju]{Wu Chu]

5. Shang was overrun by the Zhou about 1050 BC.

Zhou Dynasty

1. The Mandate of Heaven. The Zhou considered their rulers to be divine. The god of heaven determined who ruled. When overthrown, the ruler lost the "Mandate of Heaven."

2. Ruled for more than 500 years until overrun by the one of the Warring States, the Qin.

Qin Dynasty

1. Lasted only 15 years

2. "China" from the name of Qin

3. Established an autocracy - absolute rule of the emperor

4. Qin emperor force the people to start construction of the Great Wall to keep out invaders

5. Overthrown by the Han

Han Dynasty

1. Ruled for more than 400 years.

2. Improved upon a centralized civil service system to govern China. Still important in China today.

3. Long period of peace gave rise trade along the Silk Road. From China to the Mediterranean Sea.

4. Camel caravans carried jade, silk, and other valuable goods; brought back gold, silver, and wool.

5. Paper was invented during the Han Dynasty

6. Finally overrun by nomadic people from the north around AD 220.