an introduction to china.pptx
TRANSCRIPT
Geography, History, Politics, and Culture
Eastern Hemisphere Continent – Asia Land Area – 9,326,410 square Kilometers
(slightly smaller than the United States) Land Borders – North Korea, Vietnam, Laos,
Nepal, Pakistan, Burma, Russia, Bhutta, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan
Natural Borders – Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, Korea Bay
Major Rivers – Yellow, Yangtze, Mekong
Human Population – 1,321,851,888 (July 07) Largest country in population and forth
largest in land area on Earth Climate – Tropical in South and Subarctic in
North Highest Elevation – Mt. Everest (between
China and Nepal) 8850 meters Terrain – Mostly mountains, high plateaus,
deserts in the west and deltas in the east
Natural Hazards – Frequent typhoons, floods, tsunamis, earthquakes
Environmental Issues – Air pollution, desertification, trade in endangered species, depletion of natural resources
Chinese Government Headquarters
Official Name – People’s Republic of China Capital - Beijing Ruling Government - Communism Head of Government - Premier Wen Jiabo Chief of State – President Hu Jintao Elections – President and Vice President are
elected by the People’s Republic Congress to a five year term, the Premier is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Congress
Gross National Product - $7.043 trillion Poverty Rate – 8% of population below poverty
level Exports – Electrical products, machinery, data
processing equipment, textiles, steel, and mobile phones
Imports – Medical Equipment, copper, oil, LED screens, machinery, organic chemicals
Currency – Renminbi (RMB)
People’s Liberation Army Army – 2.3 million soldiers Navy – 250,000 sailors, 63 submarines, 18
destroyers, 35 frigates Air Force – 470,000 pilots
ArmyNavy
Air Force
One of the world’s oldest civilizations Inhabited by Homo Erectus more than one
million years ago Turtle shells with Chinese writing from the
Shang Dynasty have been carbon dated to 1500 B.C
Civilization began with city-states in the Yellow River Valley
221 B.C. is accepted to be the year China became a unified empire
Qin Shi Huang first united China
Yellow River Valley
Qin Shi Huang
Huang’s Terracotta Army
The overland route used by Marco Polo and his father to travel to China.
His first visit to China was in 1271. He returned to Italy with ivory, jade, silk, and
porcelain. He also told of the Chinese use of paper money, compasses,
and coal.
Buddhism Taoism Islam Catholicism Protestantism The first three are most predominant
Traditional or historical
Yellow Bird – artist:
Unknown
Ming Vase
Chinese calligraphy is the writing style. Many books were burned in 213 B.C at the
command of Qin Shi Huang.
Confucius – Wise and accepted philosopher known for originating many Chinese Proverbs that are still used today.
To define the future, study the past.Respect yourself if you want others to respect you.
Chinese New Year - Based on a twelve year lunar cycle with each year represented by a particular animal.
Weddings Dragon Festival
Automobiles Boats Bicycles
Housing Fashion Toilets
Paper Paper money Compass Gunpowder Fireworks Parasol Parachute Wood Block Printing
Original Wall was built around 2500 years ago by Qin Shi Huang.
The wall was built to protect the borders of Northern China around 700 B.C. from invaders like the Huns and Mongols.
The original length was around 2800 miles long, 25 feet high, and 30 feet thick.
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) enlarged the wall to more than 4000 miles in length with watch towers and canons as it is today.
The Great Wall is the only manmade structure on Earth than can be seen from the moon with the naked eye.
It is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world.