Why did early Chinese civilizations and dynasties thrive for thousands of years with little outside influence?
The early Chinese civilizations and dynasties thrived for thousands of years with little outside influence due to several factors:
1. Geography: The geographic location of ancient China, surrounded by natural barriers such as mountains, deserts, and seas, helped to defend the country from outside invasions.
2. Cultural Isolation: China's cultural isolation and self-sufficiency helped to maintain its unique cultural traditions and identity over thousands of years.
3. Strong Centralized Government: The early Chinese dynasties were characterized by strong centralized governments that were able to effectively govern and unify the country, maintain social order, construct public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and irrigation systems, and promote economic development.
4. Advanced Technology: The early Chinese civilizations made significant advances in agriculture, metallurgy, and other fields, which helped to support a large population and improve the country's living standards.
Overall, these factors helped to create a stable and prosperous civilization that was able to endure for many centuries with little outside influence.