Chinese civilization first began at the basin of the Yellow River. The Yellow River contains large amounts of loess sediment ("Yellow river (huang," ). The loess sediment is very rich in minerals which helps the surrounding land by the river to be fertile. The climate and the soil were perfect for people to farm a grain that could easily be stored called millet (Bar-Yosef, 2012). As a result people could store enough food to support a civilization. Silk worms were also raised here which led to the first silk garments ("Formation of the," 2001). The Yellow River basin also had wild pigs. The inhabitants were able to gather the pigs and domesticate them over time and use them as a source of meat (Bar-Yosef, 2012). The climate of the Yellow River basin, the wildlife, the fertile soil, and the fresh water provided by the river led to the earliest civilizations in China being located there. Today the Yellow River is known as “the Cradle of Chinese Civilization” ("Yellow river (huang," ).
Land along the Yangtze River was also civilized. Unlike the civilizations to the north this civilization and other civilizations along the western part of the Yangtze river grew rice as their main crop ("Early settlements china," ). They also raised dogs, pigs, chicken ducks, and geese ("Early settlements china," ). However, the north had an advantage over southern China because the north domesticated animals before the south allowing them to create civilizations faster ("The story of...," 2005).
The Longshan culture which was found along the center and lower Yellow River existed around 3000 BC to 2000 BC ("Early settlements china," ). The Longshan culture domesticated sheep and cattle ("Early settlements china," ). Plows were invented and the cattle could be used to pull the plow. As a result a larger crop could be harvested which helped expand the civilization.
While the Yellow River offered many resources needed for a civilization its elevated river bed caused it to easily and frequently flood, forcing the settlements to rebuild often ("Yellow river (huang," ). Around 770-476 BC people began to control the rivers around them to stop the flooding ("Farming and sericulture," 2001). The Dujiang Dam was built which helped divert floods and irrigate farmland ("Farming and sericulture," 2001). Irrigation allowed people to spread north and south of the rivers since they could now get water to places that didn’t have a natural water supply.
Many settlements began to populate the Yellow River basin area. All these settlements were unified during the Shang Dynasty. The Shang people were a warrior aristocracy that unified the Yellow River Basin ("Early settlements china," ). In order to have control the Shang warriors used bronze weapons. Having a bronze weapon gave the Shang people an advantage over other rival lords since their bronze weapons were sharper and less fragile then their enemy’s stone blades ("Early settlements china," ).
However, the Shang Dynasty eventually ended and was followed by the Shou Dynasty and then a period of waring states ("Early settlements china," ). While civilizations fought each other in the north many people went to the south to find refuge (Poon). A population movement from north to south was different from the normal east to west or west to east movement in other areas of the world. In addition to the fighting in the north the natural landscape of China also contributed to settlements not expanding east or west. The Great Wall was to the west, mountains to the south, the China Sea to the east, and a dessert was to the north ("The story of...," 2005). This kept the Chinese people populating within the fertile basin. It also kept them isolated from other intruders.
The north and south were unified during the Quin Dynasty. The Ling Canal was dug to connect the Yangtze and Pearl rivers ("Farming and sericulture," 2001). This linked the Central Plains with areas south of the Quinling Mountains. The Ling Canal helped increase trade between the north and the south both in goods and culture ("Farming and sericulture," 2001).
Sources
Bar-Yosef, O. (2012, February 10). The origins of agriculture in china: From hunting and gathering to early farming. Retrieved from http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/international-affairs/year-of-china/origins-agriculture-china-hunting-and-gathering-early-farming
Early settlements china. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.humanjourney.us/china.html
Farming and sericulture. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/2.htm
Formation of the chinese civilization. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/index-1.htm
Poon, L. (n.d.). The ancient dynasties . Retrieved from http://www.chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html
The story of.. the shapes of the continents . (2005). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/continents.html
Yellow river (huang he) . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/rivers/yellow_river/
Land along the Yangtze River was also civilized. Unlike the civilizations to the north this civilization and other civilizations along the western part of the Yangtze river grew rice as their main crop ("Early settlements china," ). They also raised dogs, pigs, chicken ducks, and geese ("Early settlements china," ). However, the north had an advantage over southern China because the north domesticated animals before the south allowing them to create civilizations faster ("The story of...," 2005).
The Longshan culture which was found along the center and lower Yellow River existed around 3000 BC to 2000 BC ("Early settlements china," ). The Longshan culture domesticated sheep and cattle ("Early settlements china," ). Plows were invented and the cattle could be used to pull the plow. As a result a larger crop could be harvested which helped expand the civilization.
While the Yellow River offered many resources needed for a civilization its elevated river bed caused it to easily and frequently flood, forcing the settlements to rebuild often ("Yellow river (huang," ). Around 770-476 BC people began to control the rivers around them to stop the flooding ("Farming and sericulture," 2001). The Dujiang Dam was built which helped divert floods and irrigate farmland ("Farming and sericulture," 2001). Irrigation allowed people to spread north and south of the rivers since they could now get water to places that didn’t have a natural water supply.
Many settlements began to populate the Yellow River basin area. All these settlements were unified during the Shang Dynasty. The Shang people were a warrior aristocracy that unified the Yellow River Basin ("Early settlements china," ). In order to have control the Shang warriors used bronze weapons. Having a bronze weapon gave the Shang people an advantage over other rival lords since their bronze weapons were sharper and less fragile then their enemy’s stone blades ("Early settlements china," ).
However, the Shang Dynasty eventually ended and was followed by the Shou Dynasty and then a period of waring states ("Early settlements china," ). While civilizations fought each other in the north many people went to the south to find refuge (Poon). A population movement from north to south was different from the normal east to west or west to east movement in other areas of the world. In addition to the fighting in the north the natural landscape of China also contributed to settlements not expanding east or west. The Great Wall was to the west, mountains to the south, the China Sea to the east, and a dessert was to the north ("The story of...," 2005). This kept the Chinese people populating within the fertile basin. It also kept them isolated from other intruders.
The north and south were unified during the Quin Dynasty. The Ling Canal was dug to connect the Yangtze and Pearl rivers ("Farming and sericulture," 2001). This linked the Central Plains with areas south of the Quinling Mountains. The Ling Canal helped increase trade between the north and the south both in goods and culture ("Farming and sericulture," 2001).
Sources
Bar-Yosef, O. (2012, February 10). The origins of agriculture in china: From hunting and gathering to early farming. Retrieved from http://www.brown.edu/about/administration/international-affairs/year-of-china/origins-agriculture-china-hunting-and-gathering-early-farming
Early settlements china. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.humanjourney.us/china.html
Farming and sericulture. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/2.htm
Formation of the chinese civilization. (2001). Retrieved from http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/index-1.htm
Poon, L. (n.d.). The ancient dynasties . Retrieved from http://www.chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html
The story of.. the shapes of the continents . (2005). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/variables/continents.html
Yellow river (huang he) . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_freshwater/rivers/yellow_river/
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/1/26110040/5714199.gif?415)
Source: [Print Map]. Retrieved from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/asia/china/
This map shows the locations of the Yellow and Yangtze River that was talked about in the article above.
This map shows the locations of the Yellow and Yangtze River that was talked about in the article above.
![Picture](/uploads/2/6/1/1/26110040/3027609.jpg?410)
Source: China Mike. (Photographer). China physical map:general climate and geographical zone [Print Map]. Retrieved from http://www.china-mike.com/china-travel-tips/tourist-maps/china-physical-map/
This image shows the location differnt landforms in China that were talked about in the above article. These landforms include the Gobi dessert and the Himalayas.
This image shows the location differnt landforms in China that were talked about in the above article. These landforms include the Gobi dessert and the Himalayas.
Sources of Additional Information
http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/index-1.htm - This website tells about the great thinkers of China, the four great inventions from China, farming, ceramics, and mathematics, and how these things had an effect on the civilization of China.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/china/geog/maps.htm#2b - This website gives a short description and an analysis of the major physical features of China, its crops, and its population. It also has different maps of China.
http://www.china.org.cn/e-gudai/index-1.htm - This website tells about the great thinkers of China, the four great inventions from China, farming, ceramics, and mathematics, and how these things had an effect on the civilization of China.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/china/geog/maps.htm#2b - This website gives a short description and an analysis of the major physical features of China, its crops, and its population. It also has different maps of China.
Population Pyramids
The population in 1980 had a larger young population then it did in 2010. In 1980 the percentage of male and females ages 0-4 was just over 5% whereas in 2010 that percentage changed to roughly three percent for males and females. This could be in part of the one child policy China implemented in 1979. Another observation worth noting is that more people are living to an older age then in 1980. There needs to be enough young people to support the older population. In 1980 There were plenty of young people to take care of the older population. However, in 2010 this margin decreased.