China’s Geography How did China’s geography contribute to its isolation?

I. Geographical Facts a. background

1. larger than US 2.varied physical geography

- world’s highest mountains - huge deserts - fertile plains - tundra

b. climate 1. tundra to tropics 2.north/south divide

- N. China- long cold winters, short hot summers

- S. China- warm year round- long growing season and monsoons

II. The “Middle Kingdom” a. China saw itself as the center of the civilized

world (b/c of geographic isolation) 1. East- Pacific Ocean 2.West- Takla Makan Desert and Plateau

of Tibet 3. Southwest- Himalayas 4. North- Gobi Desert (and fear of Mongols)

b. Unique language, philosophies, and cultural beliefs

c. North China Plain: “Cradle of Chinese Civilization” 1. Valleys between Yellow and Yangtze

Rivers 2.Fertile area ringed by hills and

mountains 3. 90% of China’s ARABLE land is in NCP