Barriers and Pathways: Geography’s Impact on Chinese Society
Mountains
Rivers
Deserts
Climate patterns

The Important Role of Family in Chinese Culture
Structure
Values
Changes over time
Traditions

The Shang Dynasty: China’s First Civilization
Timeline/dates
Borders/map
Early beliefs
Traditions
Accomplishments
Influence on the future

The Zhou Dynasty: 1,000 Years of Progress and Struggles
Timeline/dates
Borders/map
Western Zhou Dynasty
Eastern Zhou Dynasty
Era of Warring States
"Hundred Schools of Thought"
Cultural achievements

The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty: Unification and Control
Timeline/dates
Borders/map
Laws
Economy
Culture
Achievements

The Han Dynasty: The Greatest Dynasty of All?
Timeline/dates
Borders/map
Famous People
Exploration and expansion
Influence on society
Architecture
Inventions

The Great Wall of China
Original purpose
History through dynasties
Locations/map
Materials/labor used
Effect on society at the time and into the future

The Silk Road: East Meets West
Original purpose
History through dynasties
Locations/map
How it worked
Trade and philosophy
Stories from the Silk Road
Effect on society at the time and into the future

Technology and Achievements
Silk
Bronze
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/shzh/hd_shzh.htm

Jade
Acupuncture
Medicinal herbs
Paper
Tools
(many others!)

Chinese Art and Architecture
Artwork and materials
Architectural achievements
Temples
Palaces

The Importance of Dragons in Ancient Chinese Culture
Beliefs
Descriptions
Where they are shown
Festivals
Comparisons to other cultures

Biographies
Confucius (Kong Fu Zi) and Confucianism
     Life and after death
     Main ideas and philosophy
     Effect on family life
     Effect on government
Mencius (Meng-Tzu; Mengzi)
Lao-Tzu (Laozi) and Taoism
Sun Tzu (Sunzi) and The Art of War
Shi Huangdi (Zhao Zheng): The First Emperor
http://www.hbschool.com/newsbreak/terra.html
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2001/10/01/html/ft_20011001.3.html
Liu Bang: The Peasant Emperor of the Han
Wudi: The Warrior Emperor
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22864.htm
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/emperor_wu.htm

Sima Qian: China’s Grand Historian
Zhang Qian: Explorer of the Western Frontier

GENERAL
History for Kids: Ancient China
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/index.htm

Social Studies for Kids
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/ancientchina.htm

British Museum
http://www.ancientcivilizations.co.uk/home_set.html
http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/menu.html

Timeline of Art History at the Met
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/intro/atr/03sm.htm

Pocantico Hills’ Reference Application Site
http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/library/searches/results.aspx?nav=non&fulltext=ancient+china

Mr. Donn’s Ancient China Site
http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#XIA

Ancient Asia: Columbia University
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/

Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_China

HISTORY AND DYNASTIES

History Timeline
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/time_line.html
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/hh/goplaces/article/0,20343,536988,00.html

History through Maps
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/shang-dynasty-map.cfm

China’s Early Dynasties
http://www.monterey.k12.ca.us/~lagunita/China/index.html
http://www.crystalinks.com/chinadynasties.html
http://asterius.com/china/
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/chinese-dynasty-guide.cfm

The Shang Dynasty
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCCHINA/ANCCHINA.HTM

The Zhou (Chou) Dynasty
http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/ANCCHINA/ANCCHINA.HTM
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html#zhou

Hundred Schools of Thought
http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient2.html

The Qin Dynasty
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/qind/hd_qind.htm

The Han Dynasty
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm#

Geography: The Yellow River
http://www.cis.umassd.edu/~gleung/

CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Ancient Chinese Technology and Inventions
http://library.advanced.org/23062/
http://www.fi.edu/tfi/info/current/inventions.html
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/abacus.htm
http://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/china/eg_china_3a.html
http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/chinahist/dynasties.html

Art and Architecture
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/chinese-dynasty-guide.cfm
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/intro/atr/03sm.htm

Chinese Myths and Fantasies
http://www.chinavista.com/experience/story/story.html

The Great Wall
http://www.chinavista.com/travel/greatwall/greatwall.html
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china_great_wall/index.htm

The Silk Road
http://www.ess.uci.edu/%7Eoliver/silk.html
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/china_dawn/essay_silk.html
http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/china_dawn/silk_road.html

The Chinese Dragon
http://www.primarysource.org/resources/tcu_botsford/toc.html#objectives

The Forbidden City
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/forbiddencity/

The Grand Canal

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