Chinese History Part I

Ancient China

Franceschini

Common Core SS Standards addressed throughout the reading packet:

6H.1.3 Use primary and secondary sources to interpret various historical perspectives.

6H.2.1 Explain how invasions, conquests, and migrations affected various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., Mongol invasion, The Crusades, the Peopling of the Americas and Alexander the Great).

6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time (e.g., agricultural technology, weaponry, transportation and communication).

6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society (e.g., Mansa Musa, Confucius, Charlemagne and Qin Shi Huangdi

6G.1.1 Explain how the physical features and human characteristics of a place influenced the development of civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., location near rivers and natural barriers, trading practices and spread of culture).

6G.1.4 (3.01, 3.03) Explain how and why civilizations, societies and regions have used, modified and adapted to their environments (e.g., invention of tools, domestication of plants and animals, farming techniques and creation of dwellings).

6E.1.1 Explain how conflict, compromise, and negotiation over the availability of resources (natural, human and capital) impacted the economic development of various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., competition for scarce resources, unequal distribution of wealth and the emergence of powerful trading networks).

6E.1.2 Explain how quality of life is impacted by economic choices of civilizations, societies and regions

6C&G.1.1 Explain the origins and structures of various governmental systems (e.g., democracy, absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy).

6C&G.1.2 Summarize the ideas that shaped political thought in various civilizations, societies and regions (e.g., divine right, equality, liberty citizen participation and integration of religious principles).

6C&G.1.4 Compare the role (e.g., maintain order and enforce societal values and beliefs) and evolution of laws and legal systems (e.g., need for and changing nature of codified system of laws and punishment) in various civilizations, societies and regions

6C.1.2 Explain how religion transformed various societies, civilizations and regions (e.g., beliefs, practices and spread of Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism).

Common Core Reading Standards addressed throughout the reading packet:

Locate and cite details, State main ideas and summarize.
Determine meanings of words and phrases.
Determine how information is presented (sequentially, comparatively, etc.).
Integrate and analyze visuals (maps, charts, pictures) etc. with text.

Common Core Writing Standards addressed throughout the reading packet:

Produce clear and coherent writing appropriate for the task.
Use technology and internet to produce writing.
Informative and Explanatory Writing in the context of SS

Unit Vocabulary:

Students should write these words in their vocabulary journal and write their meaning with pictures (when possible) as we come across them in our readings.

See Bold face words highlighted throughout the readings.

Chinese History Part I > Geography

Objectives:SWBAT ID China’s major geographic features. SWBAT assess how the geography of China isolated it and contributed to its unique culture. SWBAT compare China’s development to Egypt and other river valley civilizations.

6G.1.3 Compare distinguishing characteristics of various world regions (e.g., physical features, culture, political organization and ethnic make-up.

6G.2.1 Use maps, charts, graphs, geographic data and available technology tools to draw conclusions about the emergence, expansion and decline of civilizations, societies and regions

For thousands of years, the ancient Chinese thought they were pretty much alone on the planet Earth. They knew there were people to the north, the Felt Tent People - the Mongols - but they did not know that other advanced ancient civilizations existed anywhere else.

China's natural barriers to the west, south, and east helped to protect these early people from invasion. The geography isolated the Chinese from the rest of the world. China's natural barriers to the east included the China Sea and theYellow Sea. Both are located in the Pacific Ocean. These seas provided a huge coastline that protected China from invaders. They also provided trade routes and easy access to food. China's natural barriers also included mountains such as the Himalayas and Snowy Mountains to the southwest. These mountains were extremely high and almost impossible to cross. To the north and the west were great deserts such as the Gobi Desert and the Taklamakan Desert.As you can see, China had many natural barriers, all of which helped to keep her isolated from the rest of the world for many thousands of years.

China has one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Like most major civilizations, Chinese civilization also began along fertile river valleys where food could be grown. Not all of China's geography acted as barriers. Rivers provided fertile soil and safe drinking water. China has two major river systems: the Yellow River (Huang He) and the Yangtze River (Long River). The Yangtze (Long River) is the third longest river in the world. It is about 4000 miles long. Just like the Nile in Egypt, the Yangtze River floods each year and leaves fertile soil along the banks. The Yangtze River has high banks, which keeps homes safe from the annual flooding. The Huang He (Yellow River) is about 3000 miles long. It also floods each year. The banks along the Huang He River are low. Civilization in ancient China began along the Yellow River about 5000 years ago.In China the Yellow River is known as "The Great Sorrow" because each year during the flood season, all homes along the Huang He River were destroyed. Each year, the ancient Chinese had to rebuild their homes and their lives. Over time, people learned the techniques of flood control. Chinese people learned to work together to build strong houses and walls. The rich began to build their homes high above the river.

Like the ancient Babylonians, Sumerians and Egyptians the Chinese would use the river to irrigate their crops.

Essential Questions:

How did the geography of China isolate it and contribute to its unique culture?
How did the early civilization of China compare to other early river civilizations such as Egypt and Mesopotamia?

Map Questions:

Where do the Yellow River and Yangtze River empty?
Using directions, in which area of China are the Himalayas?
Using directions, in which area of China is the Gobi Desert?
Name two geographic features in eastern China.

Complete each sentence:

China's natural barriers to the east included the China Sea and the _____
The Yellow River is also called the _____
The Yangtze River is also called _____
Civilization in ancient China began along the Yellow River about _____
In China the Yellow River is known as ______because each year during the flood season, all homes along the Huang He River were destroyed.

Chinese History Part II > Dynasties

Objectives:SWBAT ID the major dynasties of China

6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society (e.g., Mansa Musa, Confucius, Charlemagne and Qin Shi Huangdi

Ancient China covers over 11,000 years of history. Chinese civilization started around 10,000 BCE, when a group called the Yangshao (yahng show) settled near the Huang He River. Archaeologists have uncovered many Yangshao villages in northern China. In one village, they found the remains of farmhouses. The Huang He River was the birthplace of Chinese civilization.

China has been a land that has been ruled by dynasties for thousands of years. A dynasty is a period of time which a certain family rules a nation. It’s a family of Kings. When one emperor (king) died then his son would become the new emperor. Some family dynasties ruled for hundreds of years before a new dynasty replaced them. For thousands of years China would be ruled by many different dynasties. When one family dynasty lost control and became weak then a new family dynasty would fight to take control. Each emperor often ruled with an iron fist. This meant they did not give their people many rights.

China was ruled by many dynasties throughout its long history. Here is a list of dynasties beginning with the earliest:

Xia Dynasty 2,000 BC -1500 BC
Shang Dynasty 1500 BC-1122 BC
Chou Dynasty 1122 BC- 256 BC
Period of disunity 256 BC- 221 BC
Ch’in Dynasty 221 BC- 206 BC
Han Dynasty 206 BC – 220 AD
Period of disunity 220-589
Sui Dynasty 589- 618
T’ang Dynasty 618-907
Period of disunity 907- 960
Sung Dynasty 960-1279
Yuan Dynasty 1279- 1368
Ming Dynasty 1368- 1644
Ch’ing Dynasty (Qing) 1644-1911

Questions:

What was the first dynasty?
What was the last dynasty?
How many periods of disunity were there?
Which river gave birth to Chinese civilization?

It can get very confusing and also frustrating sometimes to remember these dynasties because different people refer to the same blocks of time by different names. For example, someone might say "in Shang times" or "in Han times", or they might say "in the Bronze Age" or "in the Age of Division". They might say in the Chou Dynasty (when the Chou family ruled) or in the Zhou Dynasty (when the Zhou family ruled). But, the Chou and Zhou Dynasties were the same dynasty, only spelled differently. You can see why this might be confusing!

So, before we goany further, we need a cheat sheet of who's who in ancient China.

Cheat Sheet: Who's Who in Ancient China

Time Period / Dynasty / Quick Glimpse
Early
10,000-1500 BCE / Xia(Hsia) / Lungshan people, the great engineers
Silk, potters wheel, baked brick houses, flood control, irrigation
Bronze Age
1500-600 BCE / Shang
Chou(Zhou) / / Rich Nobles & Poor Farmers
Oracle Bones (Shang)
Mandate of Heaven (Chou)
AncestorWorship
Chariots, bowmen, great royal hunts, bronzecandlesticks, feudal lords, jade carvings, Chinesewriting (pictographs), calligraphy
Classical Age
600 BCE-
200 CE / Late Chou
Ch'in(Qin)
Han /
Building the Great Wall
First Emperor (Qin) / Confucius Taoism (Chou)
Silk Road (Han)
Central government, public schools, mirrors, oil lamps,
fancy shoes, fireplaces, window frames with colored glass,
marble staircases
Chinese New YearLantern Festival
Chinese Zodiac
Age of Division
200-600 CE /
A bunchof
dynasties
/ Hu the Tiger(who reminds me of Jaba the Hut in Star Wars!)
Inventionof gunpowder
Tea! (Confucius probably never tasted tea, andit really didn'tbecome popular until T'ang times, but thisera is when it first started to be enjoyed.)
Early Medieval Period
600-900 CE / T'ang / TheGolden Age!
Furniture, ceramics, spoons, amber, turquoise, gold,silver, goblets, teacups, sports, games, music, dancing, even akind of football, and a neat form of air-conditioning. Fancy hats, silk robes, jade belts, Buddhism
Tea was used as barter with areas in Mongolia for horses in an exchange called the "Tea and Horse" Policy.

Questions- Use the cheat sheet.

During which dynasty did Confucius live?
During which dynasties did the Bronze Age occur?
During which dynasty did the building of the Great Wall begin?
What was the Age of division?
Which dynasty occurred during the early Medieval Period?

The Dynasties

Objectives:SWBAT ID the major dynasties of China, explain accomplishments and ID major people of each.

The Xia Dynasty-2,000 BC -1500 BC

Objectives:SWBAT explain why very is little is known about the Xia Dynasty.

6H.2.3 Explain how innovation and/or technology transformed civilizations, societies and regions over time (e.g., agricultural technology, weaponry, transportation and communication).

About 3,000 BCE the Lungshan people appeared. The Lungshan were very advanced for their time. They harvested silk, and used it to weave fine fabrics. They used the potter’s wheel. They baked strong bricksin ovens, and used them to build their homes. They worked together on flood control and irrigation projects. They had great engineering skills. Legend has it that their "Great Engineer", Yu, founded the XiaDynasty in about 2,000 BCE. There are no written records of life during the Xia Dynasty. Our knowledge of these people comes from ruins of their town, and ancient stories and legends.

Question:

Why is very little known about the Xia Dynasty?

Shang (1500 BC-1122 BC)and Chou (1122 BC- 256 BC)

Dynasties

Objectives:SWBAT explain the Mandate of Heaven and evaluate its impact on Chinese history. SWBAT describe accomplishments of the Shang and Chou dynasties. SWBAT examine Chou government and economic structure.

6H.2.4 Explain the role that key historical figures and cultural groups had in transforming society (e.g., Mansa Musa, Confucius, Charlemagne and Qin Shi Huangdi

6E.1.2 Explain how quality of life is impacted by economic choices of civilizations, societies and regions

6C&G.1.1 Explain the origins and structures of various governmental systems (e.g., democracy, absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy).

6C.1.3 Summarize systems of social structure within various civilizations and societies over time (e.g., Roman class structure, Indian caste system and feudal, matrilineal and patrilineal societies).

The Shang Dynasty ruled China from around 1500 B.C. until 1100 B.C. During this 400 year period of history, Chinese tradition states that 30 separate kings ruled from a succession of 7 different capitals. Only a few of these capitals have been located and excavated by archeologists. One of the most important contributions made during the period that the Shang Dynasty ruled China was the invention of writing. The earliest written records found in China come from this time period.

One of the most important philosophies in Chinese history also developed during the Shang Dynasty- The Mandate of Heaven. This gave the emperor the right to rule. The Chinese believed that heaven or a godly force ruled the universe. Heaven gave the emperor the right to rule as long as the emperor ruled wisely and protected his people. If he did not rule wisely and protect the people, then the people did not have to listen to him. When this happened there was usually a civil war and the person who overthrew the emperor now became emperor and he had the new Mandate of Heaven. A new family dynasty now began.

The Chou (Zhou) family was able to defeat and overthrow the last Shang Dynasty king in 1028 B.C. They claimed that the Shang Dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven due to their poor governing. The Chou Dynasty would become the longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history, lasting over 800 years.

The Zhou set up a new economy, rearranging the affairs of the kingdom. As they did so, the borders of their kingdom swelled, and they were able to maintain control over the people they conquered effectively. Zhou kings assigned noblemen, who were usually members of the royal family, to serve as regional rulers. These noblemen owned the land and were given absolute authority over it. The peasants could not own land, but instead worked the land for the noblemen. This form of government worked well for several hundred years. However, overtime the king slowly became less powerful, while the noblemen grew in power. In 771 B.C., while fighting against a rebellion, the Zhou armies suffered a terrible defeat. As a result, the Zhou Dynasty lost even more power to the noblemen. They managed to hang on to power for another 500 years. Then, in 256 B.C., the Zhou Dynasty was finally overthrown.

In conclusion, Shang and Chou times are known for their use of jade, bronze, horse-drawn chariots, ancestor worship, highly organized armies, and human sacrifice. Cities were surrounded by protective walls. Rich nobles owned and rule the land. Inside these walled cities lived the rulers, priests, and warriors. Merchants and craftsmen lived in mud houses built up against the outside walls of the cities. Farmers lived in nearby villages. Chopsticks were invented, which changed the way people ate their food. Family for both the rich and the poor was all important. The oldest male was the head of the family. If one member of a family did something wrong, the entire family was in disgrace. Amongst the nobles, marriages were arranged to strengthen or to create a union between two clans or families. The role of the woman was to be gentle, calm, respectful, and to obey her husband. In ancient China, home and family were so important that they were nearly sacred.

Essential Questions:

Explain the Mandate of Heaven.
How did the Mandate of Heaven give legitimacy for the Chou to overthrow the Shang?
How did the Chou organize their government and economy?

Complete each sentence:

One of the most important philosophies in Chinese history also developed during the Shang Dynasty called _____…
The Chou claimed that the Shang Dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven due to their _____
The peasants worked for the _____
The Zhou Dynasty was finally overthrown_____

The Shang Lands The Chou Lands

The Qin (Chin) Dynasty-221 BC- 206 BC

Objectives:SWBAT summarize accomplishments and changes made by Qin (poster boards, trees, etc.) SWBAT explain how Qin was able to have total control. SWBAT analyze why they think the qin Dynasty was short-lived.