In ancient times, China mainly covered the fertile valleys of the Huang and Yangtze rivers. More than 90 per cent of people lived in the east, where the rivers provided water for farming. However, these rivers often þooded, causing great damage and loss of life.
Did you know? Over many years, mud from soil erosion raised the Huang River so high that it þowed above the land. When these barriers broke, þoods killed many people. In 1117 CE, over a million people died in a major þood.
7.5.2 A big population One in four people today is Chinese. Even in ancient times, China had a large population that could change quickly. They estimate: • in Qin dynasty times (221–206 BCE), 20 million people were in China • by 1 CE, there were about 60 million people • by 220 CE, the population had fallen to about 40 million • China’s population then took almost another thousand years to surpass 60 million. During the Han dynasty, China’s population grew due to peace and better farming. But clearing forests and farming the Huang River caused soil erosion, turning it yellow. By 220 CE, rebellions, soil erosion and famines reduced the population. Many animals lost their homes. In ancient times, elephants and rhinos lived in China, but rhinos went extinct, and elephants now live in small protected areas.
7.5 SkillBuilder activity USING HISTORICAL SOURCES 1. Describe the pollution in Shanghai.
SOURCE3 A constant haze of air pollution hangs over modern China’s cities. This is a view of Shanghai.
• What are the main sources of air pollution in Shanghai and other modern Chinese cities? • How does air pollution affect the health and daily lives of people living in Shanghai? • What measures are helping to reduce air pollution in Shanghai and improve air quality? 2. Discuss how concerned you think anyone living in Shanghai should be about such pollution. 3. Conduct research to ýnd out: • how pollution in China became so extreme • what China is now doing about it. 4. Communicate your ýndings to the class in any format you choose.
TOPIC7 Ancient China 199
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