Cultural
Background
China, one of the four oldest civilizations in the world, has
a written history of 4,000 years and boasts rich cultural relics
and historical sites. China is one of the largest countries and
today has more people than any other country.
The Chinese are also known for their many inventions. They invented
paper, gunpowder and printing, among many other things.
Most of the ancient Chinese were peasant farmers who grew crops
on small plots of land. The entire family helped grow and harvest
the crops. The farmers in northern China grew a variety of grains,
while the farmers in southern China grew mostly rice.
The Chinese were governed by a royal family, called a dynasty,
which was believed to be chosen by Heaven to rule China.
Time
Period: 2200 BC to the present. Some sources date the earliest
Chinese dynasty to 10,000 BC.
Location:
China is in Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow
Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam. It is located
at 35 degrees N, 105 degrees E.
Geography/Topography:
China is made up of mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains,
deltas, and hills in east. The weather ranges from warm and humid in the
south to cold and frozen in the north.
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