Imperial china geography challenge
Directions: Analyze (carefully examine) the map on page 177 in the red History Alive
textbook. Read “Setting the Sate” on page 176 as you complete each Geography Challenge
Card and answer the questions using complete sentences (when applicable).
1. Which of the six bodies of water that borders Imperial China lies farthest north?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you think the land near these rivers would be heavily populated? Be sure to use
evidence from “Setting the Stage” to support your argument.
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Suppose traders were traveling from China to the Mediterranean region. What physical
features in China would they have had to cross?
a. _______________________________
c. _______________________________
b. _______________________________
d. _______________________________
4. When traders wished to take a land route to the eastern Mediterranean, they had to travel
across large deserts. Explain why each of these might be important to such travelers:
oases: _____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
camels: ____________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
military posts: ______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. In what part of China are the Plateau of Tibet, the Tian Shan, and the Himalayas located?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
6. Why would these features have made sea trade more popular than overland trade? (Be sure
to use evidence to support your answer,)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
7.
Why might knowledge of the compass have allowed the Chinese to have been, at one time,
a major sea power?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
8. What country north of China is located nearest the Huang He River?
_____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
9. Why might the people living in this area have attacked those living around the Huang He
River? (Be sure to use evidence from pages 176-177 to support your answer.)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
10. Why might the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore become important trading partners with
China?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Your Geographic Thoughts
Directions: Answer the following questions using complete sentences. Be sure to use evidence
from the maps, “Setting the Stage” and the geography challenge to support your answers.
1. While it took around five hundred years for the Buddhist religion to reach China from
India, it took more than twice that long for Christianity to reach China from Europe.
What geographical factors might explain this difference?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. What are two geographical reasons why governing a united China might be difficult?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. During the 200s B.C.E., a Chinese emperor ordered his people to connect walls built
by earlier rulers. The completed project, the Great Wall of China, extended along the
northern border of China. It was meant to protect the Chinese from invasions that
came from the north. Why do you think the emperor was more concerned about
attacks from this direction than any other? (Be sure to use evidence to support your
argument.)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #1
Label the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea,
the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal.
Color these bodies of water blue.
Answer question #1
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #2
Label the Huang He and the Chang Jiang Rivers.
Label the North China Plain and the Chang Jiang Basins.
Answer question #2
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #3
Label the Taklimakan Desert and the Gobi Desert.
Answer questions #3 and #4
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #4
Label the Plateau of Tibet, the Tian Shan, and the Himalayas.
Answer questions #5 and #6
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #5
Draw a line showing the shortest sea route from China to the southern tip of India.
Begin at the mouth of the Chang Jiang.
Answer question #7
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #6
Look at the maps on pages 422 - 423.
Label the country north of China that is located nearest the Huang He.
Answer questions #8 and #9
Imperial China Geography Challenge Card #7
Look at the map of Asia on page 423.
Label the three island chains east of China.
Answer question #10