History project (1)

Ancient China: A Roadmap To Growth

Location, location, location! The geographical area of Ancient China influenced the
manner in which China's society developed. This included advancements in the arts, music,
education, folklore, publications, and Chinese poetry. The rivers, deserts, and mountains were
essential to Ancient China’s growth.

The rivers were important because they provided food, a way to move from location to
location, fertile land for growing food, and provided fresh water. One of the most well-known
rivers is the Yellow River, which is also called ​"Cradle of Chinese Civilization". Ancient China’s
first civilization formed along this river. It is 3,395 miles long making it one of the longest rivers
in the world. Ancient Chinese farmers built farms along the river. The yellow soil helped grow
millet, one of the five sacred grains in ancient China, and they also raised cows and sheep.
Another river that was important to the growth of Ancient China was the Yangtze River. This
river was one of the top three longest rivers at 3,988 miles. The Yangtze played a critical role in
the growth of Ancient China’s culture. Just like modern-day retirees, farmers took advantage of
the warm climate. However, the farmers needed a lot of rain in order to grow rice crops.

Another geographical feature that significantly affected the civilization and culture of
Ancient China was the desert. The deserts provided a way to keep the Chinese protected and
isolated. For example, the Taklamakan desert provided a protective barrier from invaders. In this
desert the temperature was extremely hot during the day, the nights were frigid cold, dangerous
snakes were everywhere, and there was almost no water. These conditions made it difficult for
other civilizations to raid the city. The Gobi desert also provided the same type of protection.

Similar to the deserts, mountains also provided protection and isolation from other
civilizations. Potential invaders found it impossible to get past the Himalayan mountains. The
mountains had more than 110 peeks and were over 24,000 feet high. One of the most
well-known peaks is Mount Everest. The high mountain ranges allowed China to isolate itself
from other civilizations. This allowed China to grow independently. They created their own
laws, government, language arts, and other cultural ideas.

No discussion about Ancient China would be complete without a conversation on the
Great Wall of China. The Great wall is one of the longest architectures built by man. In 220 B.C.
Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China under the Qin Dynasty, ordered that the original walls
be taken down between states, then joined together into one single wall. Those walls would
expand for more than 10,000 li (about one-third of a mile). The wall was so big that they needed
an army of military officials, prisoners, and average citizens to help build the wall. The walls
would protect China from civilizations from the north. China also used the wall to strengthen
their military. Soldiers were elected to man the wall, protect traders, and defend the caravans.
The Great Wall of China changed the civilization and culture of Ancient China.



I chose this picture to represent Confucianism because the Chinese
strongly believe that a child should have respect for their parents, one
should be a trustworthy person, education is necessary and that people
should be promoted based on merit, not favoritism

Citations:

Daoism Mohism Confucianism

Situation #1 A student who knows they are In mohism people care In Confucianism,
- A student knows that they failing the class might spend equally for others, students must have
are failing a class. They time outside taking a walk, regardless of their tremendous respect for
know they will be in trouble going to the park, and relationship. Parents do their parents. Education
when their parents find out. connecting with nature to not have any more is important, so their
How do they handle the prepare for the discussion they respect than the child. parents would expect
situation? are going to have with their The student should still them to work extremely
parents. be treated the same even hard to bring the grades
though they are failing. up. Trustworthy ness is
also important, so they
would need to own that
failure and do better.

Situation #2 A person with a Daoism belief So even though the Trustworthiness,
- A student's friend starts to might encourage them not to student’s friend is trying integrity, respect, and
smoke and is trying to smoke because of the harm to influence them in a doing the right thing are
influence the student to start that they are causing to their negative way, the important in
also. How do they handle physical health, and about how student must love them Confucianism. If a
this situation? to smoke damages the unconditionally. student is smoking they
environment. They would are not respecting
encourage these students to themselves. Trying to
respect nature and not influence their friend
influence others to disrespect they are not being a
it. trustworthy friends. The
student should be honest
and tell the friend that
smoking is bad for them
and that their parents,
who they respect, would
never allow them to
smoke

"Ancient China Geography." Accessed February 19, 2020.
https://www.ducksters.com/

history/china/geography_of_ancient_china.php.
"HISTORY." Accessed February 19, 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/

ancient-china/great-wall-of-china.
"Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts." Accessed February 19, 2020.

https://china.mrdonn.org/deserts.html.