The empire expanded westward as far as the edge of the Taklamakan Desert, which allowed the government to guard and control the trade traffic across Central Asia. The culture that developed in Ancient China thousands of years ago became the nation of China that exists today. Han culture defines Chinese culture today. According to legend, silk was discovered in the emperor's garden in 2700 BC by Hsi-Ling-Shi, the wife of Emperor Huang-Ti. This can cause horrible flooding and destruction. Chinese dynasties would continue to rule China until Medieval times when the Mongolians finally conquered China a little over 800 years ago in the 1200's CE. Family is extremely important in this philosophy. This is usually recognized as the beginning of the Great Wall of China. Despite China's large amount of land, very little of it can be farmed. Historians believe farming began in China about 7,000 BCE. The biggest festival of the year was the New Year celebration. Mongolian invasions from the north were a constant problem in China. Ancient China for Kids and Teachers. Fun activities for kids and adults alike!. The climate is cold and dry, and the growing season is short. A number of public projects, including canals and bridges, were also built to help strengthen trade and transportation. A clan is group of very close families that are often viewed as one big family. Qin Shi Huang enforced a philosophy called Legalism that focuses on people following laws and taking instructions from the government. The river is known for the amount of silt or small pieces of dirt it carries. The Chinese have used chopsticks to eat with for over 4,000 years. The Tao is the driving force behind all things in the universe. Another thing that affects the precipitation in East Asia is monsoon winds. An educational children's story with ancient Chinese-inspired illustrations. The government made Confucianism the official belief system of the empire. Ancient China is a very old civilization.There are written records of the history of China which date from 1500 BC in the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC).. China is one of the world's oldest continuous (still alive) civilizations. The Navajo, Aztec, Inuit, Inca, Apache, and Shawnee are all decedents of East Asian early people to decided not to stay in one place and farm. Each cocoon is made from a single silk thread. As other groups tried to grab the power of the government a civil war began. Ancient China It is difficult to be sure about China’s early ancient history. Outside the tomb is a life-sized army of clay soldiers, discovered in 1974 CE. Eventually, the Shang were defeated by the Zhou clan. China was home to one of the four early civilizations found around the world. This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Ancient China across 25 in-depth pages. For a better experience now, use another browser. You'd get to put a few laws into place, such as nobody has to wear shoes and everyone gets ice cream for dessert. Jade … They would then heat the bone until it cracked. The power of the emperor was also related to religious beliefs. See more ideas about china crafts, ancient china, chinese crafts. The paths of caravan traffic are often called the "Silk Road" because the route was used to export Chinese silk. In fact, during this time Chinese goods such as silk fabric, porcelain, spices and many other products were becoming very popular in Ancient Rome. Jun 24, 2019 - Explore Gabriela's board "ancient China for kids" on Pinterest. Recently, pieces of clay pottery have been discovered in a Chinese hunter-gatherer cave that dates back to 18,000 years ago—this is the oldest pottery ever discovered (pictured left). The term ‘China’ is derived from the Sanskrit word Cinna from the Chinese Qin … Although the Qin Dynasty was short-lived, its standardization of Chinese life left a deep impact on later dynasties in China. Population: more than 1.4 billion people live in China (2021).The majority of the people live in cities and towns. This allowed the government to store extra food in case disaster struck. East Asia has many different climate types. Shang government invented new ways to make bronze crafts. Ancient Chinese Civilization It is difficult to be sure about China’s early ancient history. If the kingdom needed to know something such as 'will the king have a son' or 'should we go to war', it would be carved into bone or shell. The Han Dynasty was also known for its military power. However, China is different from the other civilizations. This left a big empty space for control of China. The mountains block rain-producing weather and cast a "shadow" of dryness behind them. The Silk Road is not one single road. Although many people spoke different types of Chinese, the written language was the same making reading and writing very important to the Empire. Ancient China Children were expected to … A philosophy is a basically the way of life that helps to understand the world. In fact, most Chinese citizens today claim "Han" as their ethnic background. Learn about Taoism and the Ugly Duckling. The Chinese invented paper, the magnetic compass, printing, tea porcelain, silk and gunpowder, among other things. Most of the river water in East Asia comes from melting snow and ice in the mountains, but heavy rainfall creates conditions for natural disasters. Archeologists are still trying to put them back together as most were broken into pieces over time. The great Chinese philosopher Confucius developed a way of life called Confucianism. One way would be to draw on the laws created by previous generations like many societies do. These coins, used as early as the Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE), took the form of imitations of the cowrie shells that were used in ceremonial exchanges. At first it was primarily used for medicine. Again, China is unique because they have continued the same culture since ancient times without invasion from other civilizations armies or even ideas until the very end. Thousands of bronze artifacts have been found including some that weigh nearly 2000 pounds. Men tied their hair into a knot on top of their head and cover it with a square cloth or a hat. The Qin greatly expanded their civilized territory and brought more regions under their control and connected them with "imperial roads" This expansion of territory under one ruler created China’s first empire. Another important result of the Silk Road travel was the religion of Buddhism reaching China. This is known as the Terra Cotta Army. Despite what you might think, the building of the Great Wall was unpopular with the people who saw it as a waste of resources. Meet the Great Wall of China in this engaging facts video for kids of all ages! The empire had grown so much the emperor needed a larger government to rule it. Taoists believe you should live in harmony with nature, be humble, live simply without too many possessions  and have compassion for all life. The Himalaya Mountains and the Plateau of Tibet were formed by the slow crash of the Indian subcontinent into the Asian continent. Ancient Chinese began farming rice over 9,000 years ago. Agriculture was usually directed by the government. It is still sealed, but legend says there are rivers of mercury and models of the entire Chinese empire inside. Stretching 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) from east to west and 3,400 miles (5,500 kilometers) from north to south, China is a large country with widely varying landscapes. Taoism is all about following the "Tao", which means the "way" or "path". Ancient China. In China, the powerful families that controlled land became leaders of family-controlled governments called dynasties. The Xia stories come from written history from the next dynasty, but there are some artifacts to support the existence of the Xia Dynasty. Animals of the Chinese Calendar. Confucianism says that all people can be taught and improved if they do the right things. Similar to Ancient Iraq (Mesopotamia) using clay, very few ancient structures exist today, but the lack of stone monuments in no way represents a lack of advanced society, innovation, and greatness. More than two-thirds of China is covered in mountains and deserts. It is common to see frost or even snow on the sand and gravel dunes. Mountains dominate East Asia’s western landscape. China is very large and there were very different regions and peoples outside of the colored areas you see in these maps. To silence their protests, the emperor banished or put to death many Confucian teachers and burned their Confucian books. Since rice produces more food per acre than wheat, it can support a much higher population. The history of Ancient China can be traced back over 4,000 years. Ancient China – From Ancient China to Now. The Zhou Dynasty (1046 BCE-256 BCE) lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history. They eventually crossed the frozen Bering Strait and migrated all the way to North America. The people of ancient China kept the methods of producing silk from silkworms a closely guarded secret for centuries 3. They first began making this soft cloth around 3,000 B.C. For centuries, China was much more advanced than most other countries in science and technology, astronomy and maths. The Chinese people became unified … Terra cotta means baked clay. It is framed by the Kunlun Mountains to the south and the Tian Shan Mountains to the north. Humans probably reached East Asia between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. Despite the dry and mountainous terrain of East Asia, there are some low plains suitable for early civilization. A rain shadow is a dry area on the leeward (opposite of windward) side of a mountainous area. Rice grows best in warm areas that have flooded fields—often called rice paddies (pictured on left). The brutal leader Qin Shi Huang declared himself the first true emperor of China. It reveals the mystery behind the terra-cotta army - what some consider the eighth wonder of the world. The parents preferred their wards working in fields, growing rice, millets, vegetables, taking care of the cattle and attending to their … The Gobi is the 5th largest desert in the world and is also the coldest. Most historians agree that civilization occurred sometime around 2000 BCE along the Yellow River. Female infanticide also prevailed in ancient China during that time. They arrived between 15,000 and 20,000 years ago and became the native people of North America. Located on the eastern part of the continent of Asia, today China is the most populous country in the world. Some worn pants under their tunics. Suppose you had the chance to live on your own beautiful island with your friends and family. An introduction to ancient China. Eventually, people needed leaders to organize irrigation and store food. These philosophies are different from religions because they don't have an all powerful god or gods, although the idea of ancestors and nature are often treated like gods. View Images Dragon well green tea, or Longjing, is grown in the city of Hangzhou, China. Oracle bones were often used to determine what the gods/nature wanted. Discovering China. Silk is made by unraveling the cocoons of Silk Worms. The Himalaya Mountains are the southern border between China and India. This change was very gradual and happened differently in certain areas depending on the resources that were available. Ancient China Worksheets. Geographers estimate about 1.4 billion tons of silt flow into the Yellow Sea. East Asia is home to long rivers, high plateaus, dry deserts, and rugged mountains. Read ancient stories like Nian the Monster, Wang the Peddler, and Loawnu the Wise. All farming lands were owned by nobles (wealthy). During the Zhou Dynasty Taoism (also spelled Daoism) and Confucianism developed—the two most important Chinese philosophies. To help keep track, we've highlighted the dynasties below. If you eat rice, then it probably comes from China. The mountains and deserts have played an important role in Asian history since they created natural barriers to outsiders. Most historians agree that the Xia Dynasty was producing silk clothing, though silk production may have started much earlier. Trading goods was a major part of ancient economies. The North China Plain is an alluvial plain found along the Huang River on the east coast of China. These were conquered by the king of the state of Qin who became the First Emperor in 221 BCE. In the 5th century BCE it was made up of several rival kingdoms. Ancient China – The Middle Kingdom. He started a system of examinations (tests) to find qualified people to do civil (government) jobs such as road building or tax collecting. Many things were invented during this time including paper, steel, the compass, and porcelain. From 221 BCE to 206 BCE the Qin Dynasty (pronounced "chin") gained control of civilized China. For example, if a draught or flood was particularly bad, people may begin to think the ruling family had lost the Mandate of Heaven. DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient China: Discover the History of Imperial China from the Great Wall to the Days of the La [Arthur Cotterell, Laura Buller] on Amazon.com. The Shang Dynasty (1600 BCE-1046 BCE) was originally a clan living along the Yellow River during the Xia Dynasty. During the Shang Dynasty people worshipped many gods. ©1995-2021 Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850 China was home to one of the four early civilizations found around the world. There are many more, but we've tried to focus on the major dynasties that shaped Chinese history. OPEN ME FOR MOREIf you haven't watched videos hosted on our site, you're missing out! Porcelain dishes, cups, and bowls are often called "Fine China" because until a few hundred years ago, all porcelain was produced China. Ancient Chinese Education was a rare thing in ancient Chinese society. These regions have also long been among China's most important food- producing regions. Ancient Chinese coinage includes some of the earliest known coins. East Asia also has vast deserts. The Han Dynasty began in 206 BCE and lasted 400 years until 220 CE and is considered to be one of the greatest periods in the entire history of China. Perfect for any 4th - 6th grade teacher looking to make social studies a bit more hands on and creative!Travel BrochureCopy the travel brochure back-to-back on leg For thousands of years, East Asian people were isolated from the rest of the world—this allowed them to develop their culture in a very unique way without any interference from outsiders. So, civilization developed in China the same way it developed in South Asia, Southwest Asia, and North Africa. Not all historians agree that the Xia was a real dynasty. This system of tests is called Imperial Examinations. Meet Confucius, the great teacher. ; Name: People's Republic of China (PRC); Government: Republic, communist state The Shang conquered Xia land and gained control of Chinese civilization. For this reason, people say China is the oldest continuous civilization in the world. Most of western China is very dry because of the rain shadow created by the Himalaya Mountains. Scholars that served as officials were the most respected class in the land. "Important Book" template. DK Eyewitness Books: Ancient China: Discover the History of Imperial China from the Great Wall to … The Art of War is a famous book on battle strategy written by military strategist Sun Tzu during the Spring and Autumn Period. Chinese goods often found their way thousands of miles away from China. The Tian Shan's highest point is 24,406 feet. The River is also called “China’s Sorrow” because of its deadly floods. Rice was farmed around the same time, and there is some evidence that points to rice being farmed before millet. If he lost the blessing of heaven he should be removed. Porcelain is a very hard type of ceramic (clay pottery) used to make crafts that were highly valued by people around the world. As you might have guessed, the silk road is not a road made from silk. However, many followers of Confucianism were more loyal to their family and other Confucian traditions. Oddly enough, there are very few examples of architecture from Ancient China or even Imperial China. Most historians agree that civilization occurred sometime around 2000 BCE along the Yellow River. The Last Emperor of China, Puyi, became ruler when he was only 3 years old. Buddhism is a major religion in China today. The Qin also standardized the different systems of writing into one system called small seal script that much of China still uses today. Find out how oracle bones could foretell the future! Ancient China for Kids - Early Dynasties, Civilization and History | Ancient History for Kids | 6th Grade Social Studies Paperback – May 15, 2015 by Baby Professor (Author) › Visit Amazon's Baby Professor Page. Ancient China Projects - This resource includes two activities: 1. They leave a lip or edge on each terrace that keeps the water in the paddy. Ancient China For Kids – The Silk Road Facts. The Ancient Chinese were the first people to drink tea. This is because the children in ancient China were not sent to schools. The Plateau of Tibet is on the Chinese side of the Himalaya Mountains. Farming created more food, which increased populations and allowed people to do different jobs besides constantly looking for food. An amazing tomb was made for the emperor, larger than a football field and larger than anything in Ancient Egypt. Girls were not allowed to curl up their hair with hairpins … The individual farmers kept the square of grain in the surrounding squares and worked the middle square together. Eventually, rebellion started and a member of the Qin army took control of the empire, which began a new dynasty. Ancient history for kids is a website about ancient civilizations such as Ancient Egypt, Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Indian, and Ancient China. Silk is one of the most important products China has ever created. One artifact called a "bi" (pictured on right) seems to be a burial artifact. We cover five dynasties, as well as Confucius, Taoism and the philosophy of the yin and the yang. The crossbow was another invention of this time--it was extremely effective and feared by enemies. In the 5th century BCE it was made up of several rival kingdoms. Confucianism is still important today, but it did not become widely followed in China until the Han Dynasty. Families that controlled land and irrigation became powerful. Along the Huang in the North China Plain is where China’s early civilization began. The Silk Road is a route of trade in Ancient China. Google Classroom Facebook Twitter. Back to History for Kids Ancient China was one of the oldest and longest lasting civilizations in the history of the world. Ancient China – China’s First Dynasties. Its important to understand that other smaller cultures existed in the same time as the Shang in different parts of China, but the Shang left written records and seem to be the most advanced. This dynasty designed standard currency (money), standard wheel axle size (to make roads all one size), and standard laws that applied to the entire empire. The first crop grown was a grain called millet. Another Mountain range in western China is the Tian Shan. It lasted around 500 years and included the reigns of 17 emperors--an emperor is similar to a king. Did you know that China produces the most rice in the world? Bring history to life by being creative! Of course there have been changes along the way, but the same culture has continued. Iron tipped weapons were much stronger, and the iron plow helped to increase food production. Ancient China was one of the most amazing civilizations in history. Merchants and traders would travel in groups called caravans across mountains and deserts to sell their goods. The North China Plain is the main area where farming is done in China. Smuggling silkworm eggs or cocoons out of China was punishable by death. In fact, most modern nations use a similar system to find qualified people in a fair way. The Huang He or Yellow River is the 6th longest river in the world. A Brief History of the Chinese Dynasties. Rice and Millet. It includes a math lesson and a craft for making clay. Farming in China The North China Plain and the Huang He Valley have had large populations for thousands of years. At 29,029 feet, the Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world. Ancient Civilizations for Kids. It is from this dynasty that we get the name “China”. For ancient Chinese people, sons were more important than daughters. Chinese Dynasty Overview. It is called the Yellow River because the water picks up yellowish loess or silt from the western half of the river (pictured on right). Some groups never settled, they migrated north, maybe following herds of animals. The Xia Dynasty (2000 BCE-1600 BCE) was the first dynasty in Chinese history. The Yin Yang symbol is usually associated with Taoism. The discrimination between boys and girls existed in the ancient Chinese society. Most of western East Asia has an Arid Climate. Only about 14 percent of China can be farmed. They allowed peasants to farm the land similar to the feudal system that developed in Europe in the Middle Ages. Internet Explorer won’t be supported for long. In China the dragon is a symbol of good luck, power, and strength. Neolithic art in China. The first emperor died in 210 BCE and was replaced by a weak and young son. The Gobi Desert is found along the border between Mongolia and China. Alluvial means its made of rich soil deposited by a flooding river. After inventing the printing press, the most popular type of booklet was Buddhist sayings and prayers. 6th Grade Social Studies Standardize means to make the same. Ancient China is famous for the Great Wall of China and the Terracotta Army, but it is also responsible for several discoveries and inventions, including paper, silk and the magnetic compass. Each dynasty built new wall or improved the previous dynasty's wall. The Zhou battled with invading armies from the north (Mongolians), so they built large mounds of dirt and rock as barriers that would slow down the enemy--this was not the Great Wall yet, but the idea came before the wall. Like the Zhou Dynasty, the Han Dynasty is divided into Western Han and Eastern Han because of a short disruption when someone tried to replace the Han family--they were unsuccessful. The other three early civilizations have faded away or been completely overtaken by new people. Things that proved the ruling family had lost the Mandate of Heaven were natural disasters and rebellions. However, China is different from the other civilizations. Travel Back to Ancient China Brochure 2. The founder of Taoism was named Laozi. Similar to South Asia, the summer monsoon brings heavy rain and the winter monsoon is very dry. Ancient China was a land of invention. Ancient China is one of the oldest civilisations in the world, dating back at least 4,000 years. The crack lines would reveal the wishes of the gods--this process of learning what the gods want is called divination. An introduction to ancient China. Most historians agree that civilization occurred sometime around 2000 BCE around the Yellow River. How would you know which laws to choose? Much of China has a Humid Subtropical climate. In this case, Chinese philosophies are very similar to religions. This website is designed for kids, students, and all forms of education. People should focus on doing the right thing for others, make family the most important,  and respect elders of society. The Xia people were farmers, with bronze weapons and clay pottery. Heavy summer rains and snowmelt support 2 large river systems in East Asia. Jul 23, 2020 - Fun Ancient China themed crafts for kids. This was a change from the past belief of the "divine right of kings" which is basically the children of the king or lord automatically became the next king or lord once the father dies.