Notes

Budhism - religion

Caste System - a strict system of hereditary social classes

Confucianism - a philosophical system centered on virtue, ed, and respect to get harmony

dynasty - leadership of a country that is passed on over multiple generations, such as a monarchy or empire.

feudal system - a system of organization involving landownership in which a central authority grants land to individuals with power over regional territories and its citizens in exchange for tax revenue, crops, and soldiers

geography - the study of the earth, including it physical features and how humans interact with the land and resources

irrigation - a human-made system of channeling water from a natural source such as a river to crops

legalism - a political system based on appointing people who are qualified rather than born into a position of leadership

mandate of heaven - a Chinese philosophy claiming that it is the natural order of things for a morally fair leader to be the "Son of Heaven" a system that was used in ancient China to justify the position of ruler based on their being chosen by the universe

Taoism - a philosophical system focused on harmony, balance, and simplicity

yin yang - the ancient Chinese concept of duality of nature, representing the flow of different forces such as good and evil. represents how all things are interconnected and balanced.

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The unification of China

Early civilizations in China began almost 4,000 years ago along the Yellow River, which cuts through northern and eastern China. The independent states that existed along the river became the unified territories that expanded during the Shang, Zhou, and Qin dynasties. Geography and the centralized government systems formed by these different dynasties led to the development of irrigation system to support agriculture, the first shared language, and many other cultural, political, and economic advancements.

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The Rivers of Early Civilizations in China

The Yellow River is about 3,500 miles (5,500km), running through northern and eastern China and connecting Tibet to the pacific Ocean. It is fast flowing, carries a lot of silt, and server an area of approximately 290,000 square miles. Severe flooding from the river made it difficult for people to live in the area until they developed ways of controlling the water. Irrigation systems made it possible for people to farm in the river valley. The land was fertile and by reducing