The Geography of China:
The geographic location of China, as well as the number of natural borders that surrounded it, meant that China remained relatively free of influence from outside cultures. During the time of China's growth, a number of other civilizations such as Rome, Greece, and Egypt were also growing into formidable nations, but all were doing so within a mostly European sphere. China's geographical removal from this European epicentre of great civilization allowed them to develop their own culture and customs that are unlike those found anywhere else in the world.
Other powerful nations at the time also existed in modern day India and the Middle East. While these countries are relatively close to China, they are still large nations that cover vast areas of mostly inhospitable land, that was nearly impossible to cross alone, let alone with an army or trade caravan.
Beyond its geographical remoteness, China also had a number of major natural, geographical borders that cut them off from the rest of the developing world. These natural borders include:
Other powerful nations at the time also existed in modern day India and the Middle East. While these countries are relatively close to China, they are still large nations that cover vast areas of mostly inhospitable land, that was nearly impossible to cross alone, let alone with an army or trade caravan.
Beyond its geographical remoteness, China also had a number of major natural, geographical borders that cut them off from the rest of the developing world. These natural borders include:
- The Himalayan Mountain Range: Running along the border where modern day China, India, and Pakistan meet the Himalayan Mountain Range is both the largest (length: 2,400km), and tallest (highest peak (Mount Everest): 8,848km) mountain range in the world. While more than two-thirds of China is covered with various mountain ranges that separate it into different steppes within, the Himalayan Mountains provided a barrier to external influence, being almost impassable for an individual, and impossible for an army to traverse.
- The Gobi and Takla Makan Deserts: The Gobi Desert is the 5th largest desert in the world (I,295,000km2) and separates China from Mongolia to the North, while the Takla Makan desert (337,000km2) and presented a massive obstacle to the Persian Empire. The Gobi and Takla Makan deserts are known as 'rain shadow deserts' as the are form in the 'shadow' of the Himalayan Mountain Range which prevents rain from the Northern, Indian Ocean reaching into China.
- The Tibetan Plateau: Is the worlds highest (4,500m) and largest (2,500,000 km2) plateau. The Tibetan Plateau lies at the base of the Himalayan Mountains and is, in modern days, the centre of much debate regarding Tibet's independence. The Tibetan Plateau is a large, elevated, and mostly flat expanse of land which further solidified China's division from its Southern neighbours.
4. The Pacific Ocean: Along China's entire Eastern border is the Earth's largest ocean (165,000,000km2), covering a third of the earths total surface area. The Pacific Ocean borders China, Australia, and the Americas. The Pacific Ocean remained uncrossed until Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1519-1522 CE.
Geographical influence on early settlements
The above geographical features have played an integral part in China's development, as different dynasties have fought to expand China's borders to include these natural features. By controlling these features China was able to secure the easier to traverse farmlands and river basin areas of inner China where the earliest, and largest Chinese settlements were located.
Like any civilization throughout history, access to clean, flowing water was necessary for farming and everyday life. The two main rivers in China: The Huang He, and Yangtze rivers became the centre for early Chinese settlements with artifacts from bronze age and neolithic settlements being found all along their banks. Even today we can see China's reliance on these two water sources with Beijing (the world's 3rd most populated city) lying at the mouth of the Huang He river, and Shanghai (the world's most populated city) at the mouth of the Yangtze.
For early settlers in China the Huang He river was the most attractive of the two rivers for three main reasons:
Like any civilization throughout history, access to clean, flowing water was necessary for farming and everyday life. The two main rivers in China: The Huang He, and Yangtze rivers became the centre for early Chinese settlements with artifacts from bronze age and neolithic settlements being found all along their banks. Even today we can see China's reliance on these two water sources with Beijing (the world's 3rd most populated city) lying at the mouth of the Huang He river, and Shanghai (the world's most populated city) at the mouth of the Yangtze.
For early settlers in China the Huang He river was the most attractive of the two rivers for three main reasons:
- Of the two rivers the Huang He river was the slower flowing. This made it easier for early settlements to harness the water for use in farming through crude irrigation methods, as well as making it an overall safer river to live next two.
- Winds across the Gobi Desert to the North would blow clay dust (loess) from the Gobi onto the Huang He river. This clay dust helped to make the land around the Huang He considerably more fertile than surrounding lands, as well as making the soil softer and easier to toil. This clay dust also gave the banks of the Huang He a yellow-ish tinge, giving rise to the more common name for it: The Yellow River.
- In addition to being called The Yellow River, the Huang He is also named The River of Sorrows. It has earned this name due to the fact that, throughout history, the Huang He frequently breaks its banks and floods the nearby area. These floods would regularly destroy villages, and kill those unlucky enough to be caught in the deluge, however, in its wake, these floods left incredibly fertile, easily manipulated soil. These floods form the centre for the tale of Yu the Great, the first emperor of the Xia Dynasty.