Annie Schaefer, age 15, of Erie, Pa., for her question:
HOW OLD IS MANCHURIA?
Manchuria is the northeastern part of China. The area has was first colonized by China in 300 B.C. Before that time it was ruled by Manchu tribesmen. These were nomadic herdsmen who closely resembled the peoples of Mongolia.
In spite of the Great Wall that was built partly to keep the Manchus out of the territory, early invasions of North China by these nomad tribes were frequent.
In the 17th Century, a Manchu leader by the name of Nurhachi united his tribesmen into a powerful force that conquered all of China. From 1644 until 1912, when China was proclaimed a republic, the Manchu dynasty ruled all of China including the Manchuria territory.
The modern development of Manchuria started with the Russian penetration and railroad building in 1900.
Japan also had interest in Manchuria, particularly as a place to find raw materials. Conflict between Russia and Japan over Manchuria was one of the causes of the Russo Japanese war of 1904 to 1905. With the defeat of Russia, Manchuria came strongly under Japanese influence.
While the Chinese Republic was in its infancy between 1911 and 1928, the rule of Manchuria was mainly by bandit warlords. Then in 1928 the Nationalist Chinese government assumed control of Manchuria for a short time.
Japan conquered Manchuria in 1931 and created there the supposedly independent state of Manchukuo.
After the World War II defeat of Japan, soviet troops were quick to occupy Manchuria. During this period the Chinese Communists were established in the area. In name only, Manchuria was part of Nationalist China from 1946 until 1949.
In 1949 Manchuria came completely under Communist Chinese control.
Today 300,000 square mile Manchuria's population is about 90 million.
Manchuria, under Chinese Communist rule, is now completely a part of China. It has become China's leading producer of heavy industry and is also an important agricultural area. In fact, Manchuria is actually one of the most prosperous agricultural regions of China.
Soybeans are the chief crop of Manchuria. Also grown is millet, wheat and kaoliang, a grain sorghum and the main food in Manchuria. In addition, the farmers grow cotton, sugar beets, peanuts, fruits and vegetables.
Manchuria is the leading producer of iron and steel in China. Also, the territory provides more than half of China's oil.
Manchuria is located at about the same latitude as the Northern United States and southern Canada. Its climate is much like that of Minnesota and the Canadian provinces to the north.
There are more miles of railroad track in Manchuria than in all the rest of China put together.