Activity Sheet – Ancient China Introduction

A. Mapping Exercise

On the map of China mark and label the following features:

1. Himalayan Mountains2. Gobi Desert3. Tibetan Plateau4. Yangtze River5. Yellow River6. South China Sea7. Pacific Ocean8. Great Wall of China9. Grand Canal10. Beijing11. Xi’ian12. Mongolia

B. Read the section on page 184 – “The Impact of Geography on what people ate”. Answer the Activity questions page 185 (Check your understanding questions 1 and 2, source questions 1-4 and apply your knowledge questions 1 and 2)

C. Dynasty Timeline

Ancient China covers 11,000 years of history! Fortunately, it's divided into big blocks of time.

It can be frustrating when 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 here is a summary:

Time Period Dynasty Quick GlimpseEarly10,000-1500 BCE

Xia(Hsia)Lungshan people, the great engineersSilk, potters wheel, baked brick houses, flood control, irrigation

Bronze Age1500-600 BCE

Shang

Zhou(Chou)

Rich Nobles & Poor FarmersOracle Bones (Shang)Mandate of Heaven (Zhou)Ancestor WorshipChariots, bowmen, great royal hunts, bronze candlesticks, feudal lords, jade carvings, Chinese writing (pictographs), calligraphy

Classical Age600 BCE-200 CE

Late Zhou

Qin (Ch'in)

Han Building the Great WallFirst Emperor (Qin)

Confucius & Taoism (Zhou)Silk Road (Han)Central government, public schools, mirrors, oil lamps,fancy shoes, fireplaces, window frames with coloured glass,marble staircasesChinese New Year & Lantern Festival , Chinese Zodiac

Age of Division200-600 CE

A bunch ofdynasties

Hu the Tiger Invention of gunpowderTea! (Confucius probably never tasted tea, and it really didn't become popular until T'ang times, but this era is when it first started to be enjoyed.)

Early Medieval Period600-900 CE

T'ang

The Golden Age!Furniture, ceramics, spoons, amber, turquoise, gold, silver, goblets, teacups, sports, games, music, dancing, even a kind of football, and a form of air-conditioning. Fancy hats, silk robes, jade belts, Buddhism

D. If you still have time, find out about some of the Emperors in each Dynasty and where each dynasty located its capital city.

Dynasty Date Emperors Capital CityShang

Zhou

Qin

Han

Tang

Yuan

Ming

E. How to remember the Dynasties

(http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_timeline.htm#song)

"The Dynasties Song"

This "dynasties song," sung to the tune of "Frère Jacques,"can help students remember the major Chinese dynasties in chronological order.

Shang, Zhou, Qin, HanShang, Zhou, Qin, Han

Sui, Tang, SongSui, Tang, Song

Yuan, Ming, Qing, RepublicYuan, Ming, Qing, Republic

Mao ZedongMao Zedong

— Courtesy of the teachers on the College Board AP-World History Listserv

F. Review – Geographical Features of China

Read pages 180-183 in your textbook. Answer the Activity Questions on pages 183 (except the last question- Apply your knowledge, question 4).