The Emergence of Modern China~ Ch. 31.1 Intro First civilization along the Huang He in Northern China (3000 BC) Always been deeply rooted in agriculture Guided by Confucianism, emperors of China act like fathers; main responsibly= make sure needs are met & act fairly Feeding China?s large pop. means lots of rice & other crops Main duty of emperor= make sure there is surplus of food in case of drought/flood Also, they oversee trade system among the different parts of the country As a result, food shortage in one region help by food surplus in another This shortage & distribution system worked well New technology not as valued as it is in the west; morals are more important However, lack of military tech. proved a serious disadvantage in the mid 1800s