Ancient China Land, Water, & Ways of Life

Chapter 4 Lesson 1 The Geography of China Objective: To describe how the geography in China makes it a diverse country.

LOESS

Chinese Children’s Song • Two tigers, two tigers Run so fast, run so fast One has no ears One has no tail So strange! So strange! liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ , liǎng zhī lǎo hǔ pǎo de kuài , pǎo de kuài yī zhī méi yǒu ěr duō yī zhī měi yǒu wéi bā , zhēn qí guài , zhēn qí guài

A Land of Differences • Civilization emerged c. 3000 B.C. – China is the largest country in Asia – China is the 3rd largest country in the world – China’s landforms and climates are very diverse

The North China Plain • The North China Plain is the most heavily populated. – Major portion of China’s food comes from this region. – Land is enriched by loess – a yellowish brown soil that blows in from the desert. – Winters are cold/summers are hot – Main crops = soybeans, wheat, and cotton TURN TO PAGE 101 and complete the MAP SKILL ACTIVITY

China

Ch 4 Lesson 1 – China’s Sorrow •

http://www.cosmeo.com/videoTitle.cfm?&nodeid=&guidAsset Id=CF53340E-B507-4494-84C3-8A13381B71B2

Huang He River

Huang He River • The Huang, or “yellow,” River cuts through 3,400 miles of Northern China • The Huang has caused destructive floods. • This river carries yellow silt which is why it’s called the “yellow river” • People built levees to control the flooding. • A levee is a wall within a riverbank

Guangxi Zhungzu • To the south and east is the Guangxi Zhungzu region of China •Guangxi Zhungzu region of China is the best for farming •A cultivation system called double cropping where 2 crops are grown in the same year on the same land •This region contains much limestone which erodes to creates amazing shapes. •http://www.cosmeo.com/videoTitle.cfm?&nodeid= &guidAssetId=E2125100-CCAE-460F-82F0AB3C6B342E4C

Ch 4 Lesson 1 • Closure Activity – Answer the following questions: 1.What positive effect might double cropping have on the economy in the Guangxi Zhungzu? 2.What would your life be like if you lived on the Tibetan Plateau.

• Homework: • Complete 1-4 on p 103

Life of a silkworm Objective: To identify the life cycle of the silkworm

•Take out a sheet of paper and recreate the details of the silkworm life cycle

China’s Past – Section 2 • Anyang: Town where tortoise shells and animal bones were found with writing on them (oracle bones) • Pictographs: pictures that represent words. – Key part of China’s history

• Ancient Voices: Xia Period – Pangu: Chinese legend – creator of the universe – “Yu” – “god” that worked for 13 years to control flooding on the Huang River. – Xia period is known for its “superheroes”

Shang Dynasty (lesson 2) • First Chinese dynasty (1760 b.c. – 1500 b.c.) • Farming was the way of life – Millet, rice, raised animals – Made silk cloth – Warriors ride horse drawn chariots

• BRONZE AGE – Occurs during Shang Dynasty – Bronze is used for tools, cups, weapons

Zhou Dynasty - Western (lesson 2) • These people come from west of the Huang River • Zhou leaders conquer the last of the Shang leaders (1027 b.c.) • Western Zhou are farmers – Wheat, rice, beans, fruit – Silk is also important (women are in charge of production and cultivate mulberry trees)

Eastern Zhou Dynasty • Begins in 770 b.c. and lasted until 221 b.c. • Capital city = Luoyang • New system of money encourages trade • War causes king’s power to become weakened.

The First Emperor

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

• Zhou Dynasty starts to fail – There is fighting over controlling the government – STRONGEST STATE = Qin Dynasty – Ruled by Shi Huangdi (first emperor) – Qin was divided into 36 provinces – Standard system of money, weights, and measurement existed • SHI HUANGDI – Begins one of the biggest engineering projects: THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

SHI HUANGDI – The First Emperor • Begins the building of the Great Wall of China around 200 B.C. • Shi Huangdi was a harsh ruler – He often punished people that spoke out against him. – People didn’t like this type of government and revolted against this form of government. – The Qin Dynasty only lasted about 20 years.

Han Dynasty – 206 B.C. • Lasted nearly 400 years (until 220 A.D.) • Stretched as far as Vietnam • First Han ruler = Gaozu – He lifted the ban on books imposed by Shi Huangdi

• Wu Di ruled next – 141-87 B.C. – Divided lands by Princes and lords

Han Dynasty • Siam Qian wrote the first complete history on China – Recorded 3000 years of China – Ban Zhao continued the work of Sima Qian – Wu Di also instituted the idea of civil service.

Lesson 2 reading/discussion questions 1. What changes did the 1st Han ruler, Gaozu, make that affected life in China? 2. Compare and contrast Wu Di and Shi Huangdi in the form of a Venn Diagram. 3. What is civil service? What civil service jobs do people currently hold in your community?

Lesson 2 – Shi Huangdi Bio • Read pp113; answer the “Learn from Biographies” questions at the bottom.

• Answer the following questions related to this reading : 1. What building projects did Shi Huangdi oversee during his reign? 2. The author describes Shi Huangdi as harsh and strict. What evidence in the bio supports this opinion? 3. Why do you think that Shi Huangi’s tomb was so well protected?

China’s Past – Lesson 2 Quiz 1. What was the Western Zhou economy based on? Name 2 items. 2. Explain/Draw the life of a silk worm. 3. Describe how silk is made (name 3 steps) 4. What evidence do archeologists have about China’s history? Name 2 items.

China’s Past – Lesson 2 Quiz 5. What was the role of women in the Zhou society? 6. What material was used during the Shang dynasty to make tools and cups? 7. Why was the eastern Zhou Dynasty referred to as the “golden age” in China? 8. Why was the Great Wall of China built?

China’s Past – Lesson 2 Quiz 9. Name 1 positive and 1 negative thing about Shi Huandi’s reign. 10. How did Shi Huangdi unify China? 11. What was the silk road? 12. Name 2 important inventions from the Han Dyansty. 13. Name 2 “superheroes” from the Xia period. Describe what they were known for.