Explain how and why Beijing, China developed. What were major advantages that Beijing had during the time it was first established, and who were...

The first humans to inhabit Beijing were Peking Man, a type of Homo erectus that lived 300,000-500,000 years ago. As recently as 27,000 years ago, Homo sapiens lived in the area that is now Beijing, and remains from the neolithic period (from about 10,000 BCE-2000 BCE) have also been found in Beijing.

Ji was the first walled city in Beijing; it was built during the Shang and Western Zhou dynasties (from the 11th century BCE to the 7th century BCE). The original inhabitants were descendants of the Yellow Emperor, or Huangdi, who governed from approximately 2697 BCE to 2597 BCE (according to legend). Huangdi is regarded as the propagator of Chinese culture and civilization. During the Zhou dynasty, Ji was a vassal state. During this dynasty, King Wu, who had defeated King Zhou of Shang to establish the Zhou Dynasty, gave a noble title to the ruler of the city state of Ji. The city government of Beijing has recognized the year 1045 BCE as the first in its history. During the Western Zhou dynasty, the Zhou did not rule the territory they conquered directly but placed loyal subjects into power in walled cities.

In the book Symposium on Historical Chinese Geography by Renzhi Hou, scholars discuss why Ji, in the Yan State, became developed. Scholars cite the geographic advantages of the city. It is a temperate location on a large plain called the Beijing Plain. This area was the site of two rivers, the Yongding and the Chaobai. Unlike other areas, the city of Ji was located away from flood regions and had access through rivers and mountain passes to the north and south. In addition, the city of Ji was built on a rich alluvial soil from the Yongding River. These geographical features help explain its advantages and why the city of Ji grew so rapidly.