China’s Geography How did China’s geography contribute to its isolation?
China’s Geography How did China’s geography contribute to its isolation?
I. Geographical Facts a. background
1. larger than US 2.varied physical geography
- world’s highest mountains - huge deserts - fertile plains - tundra
b. climate 1. tundra to tropics 2.north/south divide
- N. China- long cold winters, short hot summers
- S. China- warm year round- long growing season and monsoons
II. The “Middle Kingdom” a. China saw itself as the center of the civilized
world (b/c of geographic isolation) 1. East- Pacific Ocean 2.West- Takla Makan Desert and Plateau
of Tibet 3. Southwest- Himalayas 4. North- Gobi Desert (and fear of Mongols)
b. Unique language, philosophies, and cultural beliefs
c. North China Plain: “Cradle of Chinese Civilization” 1. Valleys between Yellow and Yangtze
Rivers 2.Fertile area ringed by hills and
mountains 3. 90% of China’s ARABLE land is in NCP