SUMMARY QUESTIONS/ACTIVITIES

  1. How would learning to read be different if you had to learn a language written in characters like Chinese rather than a language using an alphabet?
  2. Compose a short poem to add to the Book of Songs. Your poem might be about, floods, rulers, war or the deeds of an emperor.
  3. Write a dialogue between Confucius, Hanfeizi and Laozi on the proper role of government.
  4. A "Golden Age" in civilization is usually marked by great technological achievements. How could we consider the Han period a golden age of Chinese civilization?
  5. Imagine that you are a Chinese trader traveling along the Silk Road during the Han dynasty. Write a poem or a letter home describing how you feel about your journey.
  6. How does Terra Cotta soldier tomb reflect the power of the Han dynasty?
  7. Describing the social structure of China in the Song dynasties. Why did merchants have, such a low status in the Chinese social system?
  8. Consider the following Chinese inventions:
    a. mechanical clock
    b. gunpowder
    c. small pox vaccine
    d. wood block printing and
    e. spinning wheel.
    Which of these advances probably had the greatest impact of history?
  9. Why do you think Chinese porcelain has been highly prized throughout the world?
  10. Why do you think foot binding was considered a sign of wealth?
  11. What ideas and traditions shaped Chinese painting?
  12. What themes did Chinese poets express?
  13. The Chinese are an isolated people. Prove or disprove this statement by using evidence from our timeline.
  14. Why were the Mongols successful warriors?
  15. How did the Mongols conquests promote trade and cultural exchanges?
  16. Organize a debate between Confucian scholars who want to end overseas voyages and court supporters of Zheng He.
  17. What does the Forbidden City suggest about the position of the Ming emperor?
  18. What does Marco Polo's awe at the glories of China suggest about the differences between China and Europe at that time?
  19. How did the Opium Wars demonstrate Britain's superior technology in warfare?
  20. Organize a debate between a British merchant and a Chinese government official about the opium trade in China.
  21. How did the Industrial Revolution shift the balance of power between China and the West?
  22. How did the actions of foreign imperialists powers help to strengthen nationalism in China?
  23. Draw a cartoon illustrating the Long March of Mao Zedong. Be sure the picture conveys key ideas about the goal and purpose of the Long March.
  24. How would the mountains of Tibet encourage a Tibetan spirit of independence?
  25. Imagine you are an artist working for the Chinese government. Create a poster supporting one of the programs introduced by the People's Republic of China.