East Asia Culture & History
Use the Ancient China Website to answer the questions:
Other Useful Websites:
History of China Website
Cheng Ho & the 15th century voyages of the Ming Dynasty
Pronunciation Guide
1.Philosophy
· What are the two major philosophies of ancient China?
· Describe the basic principles of each.
· Compare and contrast the two philosophies. How are similar, and how are they different.
· Which of the philosophies do you think is more appropriate to your lives, and why?
2.Religions
· Describe the religions of the Shang Dynasty.
· What are oracle bones?
· Describe the role of Buddhism in China.
· Do you think that Buddhism has helped or hurt the development of China?
3.Economy
· What are the two major food crops of ancient China?
· Explain how and why the physical geography of China affects the major food crops.
· Describe early forms of money in ancient China.
· Was the use of the silk road a positive or a negative for China? Explain.
4.Silk and the Silk Road
· How is silk made?
· Why was silk so desirable and expensive in the ancient world?
· Describe the Silk Road?
· How could China have prevented the lose of its advantage in the silk trade?
5.Clothing
· What are some of materials that ancient China used to make clothes?
· What were some the differences in dress between men and women?
· Describe some of the hairstyles of ancient China.
· Did geography influence the way that fashion developed in China? Why or why not?
6.Food and Drink
· What is the importance of rice in China food and drink?
· How does China's the physical geography of China affect food and drink?
· What other food and drink products is China known for?
· How is religion connected to food and drink in China?
7.Housing and Architecture
· Describe some of the types of housing in China and the materials used.
· How was housing different between classes of people in ancient China?
· What are pagodas?
· Do you think that Chinese philosophy and religion helped or hurt architecture?
8.Games
· What were some of the games of ancient China?
· What other kinds of leisure activities were present in ancient China?
· What is the role of Kung Fu in China?
· How is Kung Fu related to Chinese philosophy or religions?
9.Chinese Science and Inventions
· What do you think are the three most important inventions of ancient China? Why?
· What was the math system of ancient China like?
· How did the military inventions of China change China?
· Describe why China's invention of printing was so important.
10.Chinese Art
· Describe some of the ancient China's Stone Age art.
· Describe the art and time of the Shang Dynasty.
· Describe the art and time of the Sung Dynasty.
· Describe the art and time of the Ming Dynasty.
11.Paper
· How was the first paper made in China?
· What were the advantages of this new paper?
· How was paper spread to Arabs from the Chinese?
· How significant of an invention was the invention of paper?
12.Military
· How were early kites used in China?
· How did early Chinese make the leap from kites to hot air ballons?
· Explain how "Kongming's Light" help the Emperor?
· Do you think that gunpowder or hot air ballons were a larger leap in warfare? Explain.
You will be graded on the quality of your work and ability to complete your answers.
Additional Questions:
Other Useful Websites:
History of China Website
Cheng Ho & the 15th century voyages of the Ming Dynasty
Pronunciation Guide
1.Philosophy
· What are the two major philosophies of ancient China?
· Describe the basic principles of each.
· Compare and contrast the two philosophies. How are similar, and how are they different.
· Which of the philosophies do you think is more appropriate to your lives, and why?
2.Religions
· Describe the religions of the Shang Dynasty.
· What are oracle bones?
· Describe the role of Buddhism in China.
· Do you think that Buddhism has helped or hurt the development of China?
3.Economy
· What are the two major food crops of ancient China?
· Explain how and why the physical geography of China affects the major food crops.
· Describe early forms of money in ancient China.
· Was the use of the silk road a positive or a negative for China? Explain.
4.Silk and the Silk Road
· How is silk made?
· Why was silk so desirable and expensive in the ancient world?
· Describe the Silk Road?
· How could China have prevented the lose of its advantage in the silk trade?
5.Clothing
· What are some of materials that ancient China used to make clothes?
· What were some the differences in dress between men and women?
· Describe some of the hairstyles of ancient China.
· Did geography influence the way that fashion developed in China? Why or why not?
6.Food and Drink
· What is the importance of rice in China food and drink?
· How does China's the physical geography of China affect food and drink?
· What other food and drink products is China known for?
· How is religion connected to food and drink in China?
7.Housing and Architecture
· Describe some of the types of housing in China and the materials used.
· How was housing different between classes of people in ancient China?
· What are pagodas?
· Do you think that Chinese philosophy and religion helped or hurt architecture?
8.Games
· What were some of the games of ancient China?
· What other kinds of leisure activities were present in ancient China?
· What is the role of Kung Fu in China?
· How is Kung Fu related to Chinese philosophy or religions?
9.Chinese Science and Inventions
· What do you think are the three most important inventions of ancient China? Why?
· What was the math system of ancient China like?
· How did the military inventions of China change China?
· Describe why China's invention of printing was so important.
10.Chinese Art
· Describe some of the ancient China's Stone Age art.
· Describe the art and time of the Shang Dynasty.
· Describe the art and time of the Sung Dynasty.
· Describe the art and time of the Ming Dynasty.
11.Paper
· How was the first paper made in China?
· What were the advantages of this new paper?
· How was paper spread to Arabs from the Chinese?
· How significant of an invention was the invention of paper?
12.Military
· How were early kites used in China?
· How did early Chinese make the leap from kites to hot air ballons?
· Explain how "Kongming's Light" help the Emperor?
· Do you think that gunpowder or hot air ballons were a larger leap in warfare? Explain.
You will be graded on the quality of your work and ability to complete your answers.
Additional Questions:
- Nearly two thousand years ago the Silk Road was important to China in helping it become wealthy and prosperous. After many centuries of relative poverty, China is again on a path to economic success. With this in mind, what do you think are China’s modern day “silk roads?” Explain the connections between modern day “silk roads” and the original Silk Road.
- How is the use, style, fashion and pricing of the clothing of Ancient China similar and different to clothing and fashion today?
- Compare and contrast the housing and architecture of Ancient China with the housing and architecture of the modern world.
- Which aspects of Chinese art remind you of art that you have seen? Why and how do they make you think of other art?
- Compare and contrast the games and leisure activities of Ancient China with the games and leisure activities of the modern world.
- The inventions of paper and printing in Ancient China changed the world in a dramatic way. What modern inventions do you think are comparable to the inventions of paper and printing and why?
- Kites, hot air balloons, and gunpowder were all important inventions of Ancient China that eventually became military weapons. Compare and contrast these with modern day weapons. How are they similar and how are they different?