160 Early Asian Civilizations: Supplemental Guide 8A | The Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
[Point to the two farmers moving the water pump with their feet.]
Another important invention of the ancient Chinese is a water pump
that helped to get water from lower ground to higher ground where
the crops were planted. This kind of water pump helped to irrigate—or
bring water to—the fields. Show image 8A-6: Ancient Chinese city settlement
The ancient Chinese invented many things to help make farming more
productive—or faster and better. Can you think of what happened
after the Chinese in the river valleys between the Yellow and Yangt ze
Rivers became better and better at farming?[Pause for students to answer.]
The same thing happened in China that happened in Mesopotamia,
Egypt, and India—cities were created. The Chinese began building
permanent cities along the rivers. Each city was led by its own
powerful king.The ancient Chinese built walls to protect their cities, houses to live
in, and temples to worship their gods. They made tools and weapons.
They built boats. And once copper coins—a kind of money used by
the ancient Chinese—were invented, the Chinese traded with one
another up and down the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. Life along
the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers was bustling and full of energy and
activity.