ns of the major rivers, agriculture became a dominant force shaping society, while fishing and trade emerged in the coastal regions. This was also the case for China where long coastal ways offered trade access enhanced by developments in navigation like the compass.
Where classical China is concerned, the nation is one of the few existing countries that flourished economically and culturally in the earliest stage of world civilization. Like India, China contains five major landforms, these being mountains, plateaus, hills, plains, and basins. The vast extent of China's mountain chains has exerted enormous influence on the country's political, economic, and cultural development. Agriculture flourished in China, as well as trade, which led to influence over other nations. Unlike India, however, China was not subject to the frequent invasions that significantly changed India. Strong ruling dynasties who ruled under a "Mandate of Heaven" are characteristic of government during the classical China era, whose power was reinforced by China's isolation from invaders. China's extensive coastline provided great opportunities for trade and relations with neighboring states and peoples. It was only after 1200 A.D. that uninterrupted and large-scale invasions took place from the north.
Religion, Hinduism and Islam in India and Confucianism and Buddhism in China, strongly influenced other nations and Chinese culture. Hinduism is used as the basis for the social structure for control and unity used in India, the caste system. Dating from 1200 BC, the case system derives from Hindu religion and separates people into four social classes,
1) Brahmins - Priests or Gurus (Teachers)
2) Kshatryas - Warriors and Ruling Families
3) Vaishyas - Traders, Smiths, Farmers
4) Shudras - Laborers, Servants
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