WebQuest
Ancient China
Process
DAY 1:
Explorers, are you ready to start your quest? It is time to learn about life in Ancient China, and how geography affected its people. Be sure to take notes as you go!
China’s Geography
Main Idea: Rivers, mountains, and deserts helped shape China’s civilization.
The Huang He (HWAHNG HUH), or Yellow River, flows across China for more than 2,900 miles (4,666 km). It gets its name from the rich yellow soil it carries from Mongolia to the Pacific Ocean. Like rivers in early Mesopotamia and Egypt, China’s Huang He regularly flooded the land. These floods destroyed homes and drowned many people. As a result, the Chinese called the Huang He “China’s sorrow.”
The river, however, also brought a gift. The Huang He is the muddiest river in the world. When the river floods, it leaves behind rich silt in the Huang He valley, nearly 57 pounds for every cubic yard of topsoil. By comparison, the Nile River in Egypt only leaves 2 pounds of silt per cubic yard. The soil is so rich that farmers can grow large amounts of food on very small farms.
China also has another great river, called the Chang Jiang (CHAHNG JYAHNG), or the Yangtze River. The Chang Jiang flows for about 3,400 miles (5,471 km) east across central China where it empties into the Yellow Sea. Like the Huang He valley, the Chang Jiang valley also has rich soil for farming.
Even though China has rich soil along its rivers, only a little more than one-tenth of its land can be farmed. That is because mountains and deserts cover most of the land. The towering Himalaya close off China to the southwest. The Kunlun Shan and Tian Shan are mountain ranges on China’s western border. The Gobi, a vast, cold, rocky desert, spreads east from the mountains. These mountains and deserts shaped much of Chinese history. They were like a wall around the Chinese, separating them from most other peoples.
Over time, the Chinese people united to form one kingdom. They called their homeland “the Middle Kingdom.” To them, it was the world’s center and its leading civilization. The Chinese developed a way of life that lasted into modern times.
Life in Ancient China
Main Idea: Chinese society had three main social classes: landowning aristocrats, farmers, and merchants.
A social class includes individuals who share a similar position in society. Early Chinese society had three main social classes:
• landowning aristocrats
• peasant farmers
• merchants
• landowning aristocrats
• peasant farmers
• merchants
Classes in Chinese Society China’s aristocratic families owned large estates in early China. They lived in large houses with tile roofs, courtyards, and gardens. Fine furniture and silk hangings filled their rooms, and their houses were surrounded by walls to keep out bandits.
The aristocratic families did not own large estates for long. Each aristocrat divided his land among his sons. As a result, sons and grandsons owned much less property than their fathers and grandfathers had owned.
Aristocrats relied on farmers to grow the crops that made them rich. About nine out of ten Chinese were farmers. They lived in simple houses inside village walls. The aristocrats owned the fields outside the village walls. In these fields, farmers in northern China grew wheat and a grain called millet. In the south, where the climate was warmer and wetter, they were able to grow rice. To pay for the use of the land, the farmers gave part of their crop to the landowners.
The aristocratic families did not own large estates for long. Each aristocrat divided his land among his sons. As a result, sons and grandsons owned much less property than their fathers and grandfathers had owned.
Aristocrats relied on farmers to grow the crops that made them rich. About nine out of ten Chinese were farmers. They lived in simple houses inside village walls. The aristocrats owned the fields outside the village walls. In these fields, farmers in northern China grew wheat and a grain called millet. In the south, where the climate was warmer and wetter, they were able to grow rice. To pay for the use of the land, the farmers gave part of their crop to the landowners.
Most farmers also owned a small piece of land where they grew food for their family. A typical family ate fish, turnips, beans, wheat or rice, and millet. The farmers had to pay taxes and work one month each year building roads and helping on other big government projects. In wartime, the farmers also served as soldiers.
In Chinese society, farmers ranked above merchants. The merchant social class included shopkeepers, traders, and bankers. The merchants lived in towns and provided goods and services to the landowners.
Many merchants became quite rich, but landowners and farmers still looked down on them. Chinese leaders believed that government officials should not be concerned with money. As a result, merchants were not allowed to have government jobs.
In Chinese society, farmers ranked above merchants. The merchant social class included shopkeepers, traders, and bankers. The merchants lived in towns and provided goods and services to the landowners.
Many merchants became quite rich, but landowners and farmers still looked down on them. Chinese leaders believed that government officials should not be concerned with money. As a result, merchants were not allowed to have government jobs.
What Was Life Like in a Chinese Family? The family was the basic building block of Chinese society. Because farming in ancient China required many workers, people had big families to help them produce more and become wealthier. Even the young children of a family worked in the fields. Older sons raised their own crops and provided food for their parents. Chinese families also took care of people in need—the aged, the young, and the sick.
Chinese families practiced filial piety (FIH • lee • uhl PY • uh • tee). This meant that children had to respect their parents and older relatives. Family members placed the needs and desires of the head of the family before their own. The head of the family was the oldest male, usually the father. However, a son could take on this role, and then even his mother had to obey him.
Men and women had very different roles in early China. Men were respected because they grew the crops. They went to school, ran the government, and fought wars. The Chinese considered these jobs more important than the work that women did.
Chinese women could not hold government posts. However, women in the royal court could influence government decisions. Wives of rulers or women in the royal family often convinced men in power to see things their way. Although their role was limited, women also had an important influence in the home. Most women raised children and saw to their education. Many women also managed the family finances.
Chinese families practiced filial piety (FIH • lee • uhl PY • uh • tee). This meant that children had to respect their parents and older relatives. Family members placed the needs and desires of the head of the family before their own. The head of the family was the oldest male, usually the father. However, a son could take on this role, and then even his mother had to obey him.
Men and women had very different roles in early China. Men were respected because they grew the crops. They went to school, ran the government, and fought wars. The Chinese considered these jobs more important than the work that women did.
Chinese women could not hold government posts. However, women in the royal court could influence government decisions. Wives of rulers or women in the royal family often convinced men in power to see things their way. Although their role was limited, women also had an important influence in the home. Most women raised children and saw to their education. Many women also managed the family finances.
Information courtesy of : 6th grade Social Studies website
http://nsms6thgradesocialstudies.weebly.com/ancient-china.html
http://nsms6thgradesocialstudies.weebly.com/life-in-ancient-china.html
Please click on the link below for a podcast on Chinese geography
After reading the above information, and watching the short video, please write a two paragraph reflection in your journal about life in Ancient China. Make sure you discuss the social classes in Chinese society, as well as the importance of the Yellow River to its settlements. When done with your assignment please turn it in to the box, if you are not finished with your summary by the end of the class period it is your homework.
As always, if you have any questions please let me know. GOOD LUCK!
Materials: Computers with internet access, headphones, student journals, and pencils.
The Public URL for this WebQuest:
http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=298710
WebQuest Hits: 12,913
Save WebQuest as PDF
