Final answer:
The Yellow River is known for its influential role in shaping Chinese civilization with its fertile loess soil and recurrent flooding, which have both benefited and challenged the development of agriculture and settlement in China.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Yellow River's Impact on Chinese Civilization
The river characterized by devastating floods and course changes that have impacted Chinese civilization throughout its history is the Yellow River. Originating in the mountains of western China and stretching over 3,395 miles to the Bohai Sea, the Yellow River has played a crucial role in the development of Chinese civilization, especially during the periods of Early Dynastic China. The river's loess soil is extremely fertile but also highly susceptible to displacement by wind and water, leading to frequent flooding that has both nourished and devastated the surrounding civilizations.
The efforts to control the Yellow River's floods began early, with the Shang and Zhou dynasties developing irrigation systems such as the first 10-meter high earthen dam constructed in 591 BCE. However, the river's significant silt deposits continually raised its bed, pressured by high , which led to catastrophic floods and course changes, as seen during the rule of Wang Mang. These environmental challenges, including floods and droughts, have often coincided with serious societal upheavals, such as population displacements and famines.
Despite the difficulties posed by the Yellow River, it has been central to the agricultural sustenance of the region, supporting crops like wheat, sorghum, corn, soybeans, and facilitating significant engineering projects like the Shaopi Reservoir and later dams and canals.