UNIT DESCRIPTION

By 2000 B.C., cities were being established in the Huang Ho (Yellow River) valley of China. More isolated than the people of Mesopotamia or Egypt, the people of the eastern river valley civilizations were cut off from other parts of the world by high mountains, broad deserts, and large bodies of water. As a result they became self-sufficient, or able to take care of nearly all their own needs. Compared to the Sumerians and the Egyptians, they did little trading with other parts of the world.

Because few artifacts have been found, much of what is known about the ancient eastern river valley civilizations comes from legends. Even so, available evidence points to a unique and rich culture that continues to interest archaeologists.