How have the physical features in china affected their culture and history?

Answer 1

Physical features have a tremendous effect on culture and history. One example is the Yellow River floods. The Yellow (Huang He) River is the most important single land form in China. over one hundred million people live along its banks, trying to make a living off the extremely fertile soil it carries in its current (this silt, or loess is so fertile, it is actually yellow in color, and the river itself is literally a yellowish brown color, hence the name).

But this incredible resource is also called "China's Sorrow". Why? Because yearly it floods, killing hundreds or thousands of innocent people who could not flee, as there is no early warning system to indicate they should evacuate. China's blessing is also its curse.

Another example is monsoon rains. They, too come yearly, and are far more predictable. You can usually guess when they will come within two days. It starts with a slow, off and on drizzle, but will build up as time goes on.

It will likely never be a heavy downpour, but the rains simply don't ever stop completely, and massive flooding ensues. Once again, hundreds may die, so it seems to be a catastrophe. But, without these rains, part of China's economy would collapse.

In Southern China, it is warm enough to grow rice, a staple food in this region, and around the world. Rice needs a warm climate, but it also needs a lot of water. Normally, it would be difficult to irrigate the land, because most farmers use terracing to farm on hills, because there is so little flat land. However, with the help of the steady rains, there is plenty of water to grow all the crops China needs.

In other words, the people of China have altered their lifestyle to fit their physical surroundings. This is true pretty much anywhere you look in China and elsewhere (unless people have altered their physical surroundings to fit their lifestyle, as in the US and much of Europe). People of the Gobi Desert, Tibetan Plateau, and North China Plain all have different cultures and histories, to match their varying and diverse geographical situations.

p.s. if you wanna quote that, be sure to give me credit in real tiny print ^^

Answer 2

China's physical features, such as mountains and rivers, have influenced the development of regional identities and political boundaries. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers have played crucial roles in shaping Chinese civilization, facilitating agriculture and trade. The Great Wall was built to provide defense against invasions from the north due to China's rugged terrain. Overall, these physical features have influenced China's culture, history, and strategic decisions throughout the centuries.