WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -To the south and southeast of China are the Himalaya Mountains. These are the highest mountains in the world. They provided a nearly impassable border for Ancient China, keeping the area isolated from many other civilizations.

Detailed explanation-2: -China’s natural barriers to the west, south, and east helped to protect these early people from invasion. China’s natural barriers also include mountains, deserts, jungel, and rivers.

Detailed explanation-3: -The surrounding desert, mountains, and seas created natural barriers which protected the Ancient Chinese civilization from outside invaders. Its early civilization stayed contained within the natural barriers and did not start spreading until trade routes were developed.

Detailed explanation-4: -The barriers that ring China include: Himalayan Mountains, Mount Everest, Gobi Desert, Taklamakan Desert (Sea of Death), plus whatever other geo-graphic features you would like to include under China’s natural barriers. Class Activity: Map of Ancient China Hand out map of ancient China.

Detailed explanation-5: -China was isolated from much of the rest of the world by dry deserts to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the east and mountains to the south. This enabled the Chinese to develop independently from other world civilizations. This isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth.