The Han Dynasty was also known for its military power. Ancient China was one of the most amazing civilizations in history. Ancient Civilizations for Kids. There is very little water in the Taklimakan and crossing it is extremely hazardous. They arrived between 15,000 and 20,000 years ago and became the native people of North America. Humans probably reached East Asia between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. Since rice produces more food per acre than wheat, it can support a much higher population. The reason is because China primarily used wood as its main building material. Read ancient stories like Nian the Monster, Wang the Peddler, and Loawnu the Wise. Shang government invented new ways to make bronze crafts. This change was very gradual and happened differently in certain areas depending on the resources that were available. Located on the eastern part of the continent of Asia, today China is the most populous country in the world. So, civilization developed in China the same way it developed in South Asia, Southwest Asia, and North Africa. Some believe the story of the Xia were just a mythical story because the stories sound embellished and they don't match exactly with the archeology that has been discovered so far. The Chinese invented paper, the magnetic compass, printing, tea porcelain, silk and gunpowder, among other things. They first began making this soft cloth around 3,000 B.C. A clan is group of very close families that are often viewed as one big family. Right after them were peasant farmers who were respected because they supplied the country with food. Of course there have been changes along the way, but the same culture has continued. Ancient Chinese Philosophies. The history of Ancient China can be traced back over 4,000 years. 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. 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. Start Reading Unit. Discovering China. The empire had grown so much the emperor needed a larger government to rule it. In fact, most Chinese citizens today claim "Han" as their ethnic background. A number of public projects, including canals and bridges, were also built to help strengthen trade and transportation. Rice grows best in warm areas that have flooded fields—often called rice paddies (pictured on left). The North China Plain is the main area where farming is done in China. Qin Shi Huang enforced a philosophy called Legalism that focuses on people following laws and taking instructions from the government. Hair was considered important in Ancient China. In China, the powerful families that controlled land became leaders of family-controlled governments called dynasties. If you eat rice, then it probably comes from China. It is still sealed, but legend says there are rivers of mercury and models of the entire Chinese empire inside. Geographers estimate about 1.4 billion tons of silt flow into the Yellow Sea. In the 5th century BCE it was made up of several rival kingdoms. Ancient China was one of the most amazing civilizations in history. In terms of the sheer number and the ingenuity of their inventions, no other past civilization comes close to the accomplishments of ancient China; for kids curious about the birthplace of noodles and the home of the Great Wall, this unit spares no details. Although many people spoke different types of Chinese, the written language was the same making reading and writing very important to the Empire. China Facts for Kids. 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. The Huang He or Yellow River is the 6th longest river in the world. East Asia is home to long rivers, high plateaus, dry deserts, and rugged mountains. The Yin Yang symbol is usually associated with Taoism. Confucianism formed the cultural values and social beliefs that shape Chinese culture today. It is difficult to be sure about China’s early ancient history. Follow Lao Tzu into ancient China; he’ll show you “The Way.” If he lost the blessing of heaven he should be removed. The crossbow was another invention of this time--it was extremely effective and feared by enemies. 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 Confucianism is still important today, but it did not become widely followed in China until the Han Dynasty. Oddly enough, there are very few examples of architecture from Ancient China or even Imperial China. How would you know which laws to choose? Find out how oracle bones could foretell the future! Girls were not allowed to curl up their hair with hairpins … Ancient China was a land of invention. 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. The people of ancient China kept the methods of producing silk from silkworms a closely guarded secret for centuries 3. To silence their protests, the emperor banished or put to death many Confucian teachers and burned their Confucian books. East Asia is also farther away from other cultural centers. Porcelain dishes, cups, and bowls are often called "Fine China" because until a few hundred years ago, all porcelain was produced China. Only about 14 percent of China can be farmed. Agriculture was usually directed by the government. Buddhism is a major religion in China today. Men tied their hair into a knot on top of their head and cover it with a square cloth or a hat. In fact, most modern nations use a similar system to find qualified people in a fair way. The Qin didn’t last very long, but made an important impact on China’s future. Iron tipped weapons were much stronger, and the iron plow helped to increase food production. Chinese families eventually fought back and regained control, which they maintained until 1911 when Chinese people finally forced the emperor out of power for the first time. This left a big empty space for control of China. This is usually recognized as the beginning of the Great Wall of China. A philosophy is a basically the way of life that helps to understand the world. This is because the children in ancient China were not sent to schools. Eventually, people needed leaders to organize irrigation and store food. 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. It is from this dynasty that we get the name “China”. The mountains and deserts have played an important role in Asian history since they created natural barriers to outsiders. 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. People should focus on doing the right thing for others, make family the most important,  and respect elders of society. Discover how paper was invented. Another important result of the Silk Road travel was the religion of Buddhism reaching China. This system of tests is called Imperial Examinations. The parents preferred their wards working in fields, growing rice, millets, vegetables, taking care of the cattle and attending to their … One artifact called a "bi" (pictured on right) seems to be a burial artifact. Much of China has a Humid Subtropical climate.