Geography
Located in eastern Asia, China is a place of geographical contrast. There are two
main areas of China. Outer China consists of extremes, whereas the area of
Inner China had features that appealed more to settlers. Let’s take a look
at some landforms/areas in ancient China!
The Tibet-Qinghai Plateau
This physical feature is also called the Tibetan Plateau. The Tibet-Qinghai Plateau is, as you can tell by the name, a plateau. This plateau covers almost a quarter of China’s land and is more than two miles (13,500 feet) above sea level on average. The area is rocky and very cold due to the height of the plateau. Snows falls in the winter, and the air is dry and thin. Even though the Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) begin in this region, the plateau is still quite dry. Sparse scrubs and grasses can be found. Wolves, wildcats, antelopes, and yaks may have been spotted in this area.
This place was a very difficult place to live in because of the fact it was too cold
to grow crops, as well as too dry. Yaks and livestock were able to be fed, however. The grasses provided food for these animals. It was harder for people to pass into Inner china due to this landform and surrounding mountains.
This physical feature is also called the Tibetan Plateau. The Tibet-Qinghai Plateau is, as you can tell by the name, a plateau. This plateau covers almost a quarter of China’s land and is more than two miles (13,500 feet) above sea level on average. The area is rocky and very cold due to the height of the plateau. Snows falls in the winter, and the air is dry and thin. Even though the Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) begin in this region, the plateau is still quite dry. Sparse scrubs and grasses can be found. Wolves, wildcats, antelopes, and yaks may have been spotted in this area.
This place was a very difficult place to live in because of the fact it was too cold
to grow crops, as well as too dry. Yaks and livestock were able to be fed, however. The grasses provided food for these animals. It was harder for people to pass into Inner china due to this landform and surrounding mountains.
The Northwestern Deserts
This area of land was difficult to cross. It also was a difficult place to live because of the extreme temperatures and other factors. For example, oases were the only places to grow crops or raise animals (such as sheep). If people did decide to settle in the desert, they would often build shelters made of mud near these oases. Let's look at two desert in this area, known as the Taklimakan Desert and the Gobi Desert!
This area of land was difficult to cross. It also was a difficult place to live because of the extreme temperatures and other factors. For example, oases were the only places to grow crops or raise animals (such as sheep). If people did decide to settle in the desert, they would often build shelters made of mud near these oases. Let's look at two desert in this area, known as the Taklimakan Desert and the Gobi Desert!
The Taklimakan Desert
At 105,000 square miles, this desert is considered one of the most dangerous deserts in the world! The name itself means:
"Once you go in, you will not come out."
Not scary? Think again! The sand dunes shift and change, making this place deadly. Plus, these storms can come quickly. Two armies and 300 cities are buried by this desert, according to legend, sitting beneath the sand dunes 600 feet below the surface.
If you did decide to go into this desert, you wouldn't find too much vegetation because it is too dry; however, near oases and rivers you may find bushes, weeds, and trees.
At 105,000 square miles, this desert is considered one of the most dangerous deserts in the world! The name itself means:
"Once you go in, you will not come out."
Not scary? Think again! The sand dunes shift and change, making this place deadly. Plus, these storms can come quickly. Two armies and 300 cities are buried by this desert, according to legend, sitting beneath the sand dunes 600 feet below the surface.
If you did decide to go into this desert, you wouldn't find too much vegetation because it is too dry; however, near oases and rivers you may find bushes, weeds, and trees.
The Gobi Desert
This desert stretches over 500,000 miles. In fact, this is actually one of the world's largest deserts. The Gobi Desert has few sand dunes and is mostly stony. Vegetation is sparse and the surface of the land has bits of sand and pebbles. If you went to the Gobi Desert, you would see small and widely spaced plants!
This desert stretches over 500,000 miles. In fact, this is actually one of the world's largest deserts. The Gobi Desert has few sand dunes and is mostly stony. Vegetation is sparse and the surface of the land has bits of sand and pebbles. If you went to the Gobi Desert, you would see small and widely spaced plants!
The Northeastern Plain
This is a land of low hills and plains. Prairie grass covers the land as the natural vegetation. Horses, sheep, and other animals raised by herders were able to be fed these grasses. The Liao and the Sungari both run through the Northeastern Plain, with the Liao being shallow, allowing only small boats to travel on it, and the Sungari being deeper, allowing larger boats to pass through. In both cases, however, these rivers were used as roads in the winter when they froze.
In terms of seasons, the Northeastern Plain has short, warm summers, and, in the winter, the northern and eastern parts of the plain are cold and dry. Milder weather and more water can be found in the southern half of this plain, especially the valley of the Liao. In general, the plain was not good for growing crops due to the fact it is cold and dry. A narrow coastal plain links this area to the rest of China. Several groups of invaders used the plain to get into Inner China.
This is a land of low hills and plains. Prairie grass covers the land as the natural vegetation. Horses, sheep, and other animals raised by herders were able to be fed these grasses. The Liao and the Sungari both run through the Northeastern Plain, with the Liao being shallow, allowing only small boats to travel on it, and the Sungari being deeper, allowing larger boats to pass through. In both cases, however, these rivers were used as roads in the winter when they froze.
In terms of seasons, the Northeastern Plain has short, warm summers, and, in the winter, the northern and eastern parts of the plain are cold and dry. Milder weather and more water can be found in the southern half of this plain, especially the valley of the Liao. In general, the plain was not good for growing crops due to the fact it is cold and dry. A narrow coastal plain links this area to the rest of China. Several groups of invaders used the plain to get into Inner China.
The North China Plain
Temperature ranges from very warm to very cold in this flat region of grassland. The ground here is covered by yellow limestone silt. That is why this region is sometimes called the "Land of the Yellow earth." This silt is carried by wind all the way from the Gobi Desert! Yellow silt fills the Huang He (Yellow River). It is very muddy, making the river look like soup! Winding its way down to the eastern plain from the high western mountains, this river is one of the longest rivers in the world! Silt, that the river carries, fertilizes the land. The North China Plain is good for growing crops, as well as for settlement. Despite the positives, the river does have its negatives. The river has flooded more than 1,500 times in the past 3,000 years. These floods have caused major damage and have killed many people.
Temperature ranges from very warm to very cold in this flat region of grassland. The ground here is covered by yellow limestone silt. That is why this region is sometimes called the "Land of the Yellow earth." This silt is carried by wind all the way from the Gobi Desert! Yellow silt fills the Huang He (Yellow River). It is very muddy, making the river look like soup! Winding its way down to the eastern plain from the high western mountains, this river is one of the longest rivers in the world! Silt, that the river carries, fertilizes the land. The North China Plain is good for growing crops, as well as for settlement. Despite the positives, the river does have its negatives. The river has flooded more than 1,500 times in the past 3,000 years. These floods have caused major damage and have killed many people.
The Middle and Lower Chang Jiang Basins
These are areas of low, wet coastal plains located along the river called the Chang Jiang. The Chang Jiang is longer than the Huang He and is even named after its length. You see, its name means "Long River." Goods were able to be moved between eastern and western areas of the region due to this river. Hundreds of tributaries feed into this river. This river flows through three plains and into a delta all the way from high in the western mountains. The surrounding land is very fertile due to the deposits left by this river. Plus, this river is less dangerous than the Huang He because it floods less.
The climate in this region is wet and warm, with possible thick rainforests in ancient times. The area was not good for grazing animals nor farming due to a limited amount of space, yet it was great for growing rice.
These are areas of low, wet coastal plains located along the river called the Chang Jiang. The Chang Jiang is longer than the Huang He and is even named after its length. You see, its name means "Long River." Goods were able to be moved between eastern and western areas of the region due to this river. Hundreds of tributaries feed into this river. This river flows through three plains and into a delta all the way from high in the western mountains. The surrounding land is very fertile due to the deposits left by this river. Plus, this river is less dangerous than the Huang He because it floods less.
The climate in this region is wet and warm, with possible thick rainforests in ancient times. The area was not good for grazing animals nor farming due to a limited amount of space, yet it was great for growing rice.
Settlement
The North China Plain was often the place where most people settled due to the fact it had fertile soils, a moderate climate, and a supply a water. Other places were not as suitable for settlement. The Tibetan Plateau, the Northeastern Plain, and the Northwestern Deserts were too dry, with the Tibetan Plateau and the Northeastern Plain also too cold. Heavy rains made farming difficult in the Chang Jiang Basins. However, they were wet and fertile.
Early settlements in Inner China were greatly isolated because only a narrow coastal plain connected the Northeastern Plain to Inner China and a natural barrier was formed from mountains, the cold climate, a plateau, and deserts.
People in Outer China were herders who raised livestock, such as yaks. These yaks had many important features, such as their milk, which could be made into yogurt or butter, their wool, which could be used to make heavy clothing, their hair, which could be woven into materials for tents, and their meat, which could be used for food.
Communities living on the oases with mud homes were found in the Northeastern Plain. They ate mutton, wheat noodles, and bread and grew cotton, maize, and winter wheat.
Prairie grass supplied a food source for animals in the Northeastern Plain, allowing the settlers to raise horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. These people in this region were nomads. To get the stuff they needed, these nomads would invade the North China Plain.
More people settled in Inner China on the North China Plain. In terms as what these settlers grew and raised, they grew wheat and millet and raised chickens, pigs, oxen, cattle, and sheep. Horses, water buffalo, and cattle were herded, and permanent homes made out of rammed earth were made for shelter.
The Chang Jiang basins were good for growing rice, yet lacked lots of room for farming and grazing land. As early as 10,000 B.CE., people began growing rice in the river valley, building permanent homes, raising pigs and poultry, and eating seafood.
The North China Plain was often the place where most people settled due to the fact it had fertile soils, a moderate climate, and a supply a water. Other places were not as suitable for settlement. The Tibetan Plateau, the Northeastern Plain, and the Northwestern Deserts were too dry, with the Tibetan Plateau and the Northeastern Plain also too cold. Heavy rains made farming difficult in the Chang Jiang Basins. However, they were wet and fertile.
Early settlements in Inner China were greatly isolated because only a narrow coastal plain connected the Northeastern Plain to Inner China and a natural barrier was formed from mountains, the cold climate, a plateau, and deserts.
People in Outer China were herders who raised livestock, such as yaks. These yaks had many important features, such as their milk, which could be made into yogurt or butter, their wool, which could be used to make heavy clothing, their hair, which could be woven into materials for tents, and their meat, which could be used for food.
Communities living on the oases with mud homes were found in the Northeastern Plain. They ate mutton, wheat noodles, and bread and grew cotton, maize, and winter wheat.
Prairie grass supplied a food source for animals in the Northeastern Plain, allowing the settlers to raise horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. These people in this region were nomads. To get the stuff they needed, these nomads would invade the North China Plain.
More people settled in Inner China on the North China Plain. In terms as what these settlers grew and raised, they grew wheat and millet and raised chickens, pigs, oxen, cattle, and sheep. Horses, water buffalo, and cattle were herded, and permanent homes made out of rammed earth were made for shelter.
The Chang Jiang basins were good for growing rice, yet lacked lots of room for farming and grazing land. As early as 10,000 B.CE., people began growing rice in the river valley, building permanent homes, raising pigs and poultry, and eating seafood.