Download China`s Dynasties

Standard Indicators
China’s Dynasties
Purpose
Students will describe developments during the Tang and Song
Dynasties in China, and develop and compare timelines that identify
major people, places, events, and developments in the history
of the individual civilizations that comprise Africa, Asia, and
the Southwest Pacific.
Materials
For each student: copy of Black Line Master (BLM) Dynasties
and Kingdoms, pencil
Activity
A. Distinct Dynasties
1. Explain to students that starting in ancient times, powerful
families called dynasties ruled China. Describe how power was
passed down from father to son through these families until
another family took over.
2. Say: “There have been many Chinese dynasties, but we are
going to closely examine three of them: the Tang, the Song,
and the Ming.”
3. Tell students that the Tang Dynasty lasted from 618 C.E. to 907
C.E., the Song Dynasty lasted from 960 C.E. to 1279 C.E., and
the Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368 C.E. to 1644 C.E.
B. The Tang and Song Dynasties
1. Tell students that the Tang and Song Dynasties saw many great
achievements and inventions. Describe high points of the Tang
Dynasty, such as lyrical poetry, the spread of Buddhism
throughout China, the use of civil service exams to select officials,
and the introduction of paper money and block printing.
2. Explain to students that many inventions of the Tang Dynasty
were refined during the Song Dynasty: movable type was
invented, paper money and bank notes became widespread, gun
powder and porcelain were invented, and restaurants became
popular.
3. Explain that because more written material was available (due
to movable print), more schools were built and more people
became educated during this period.
(continued)
Standard 1 / Curriculum Framework / Activity 7
Indiana Social Studies Grade 7 Standards Resource, February 2003
connecting
across the
curriculum
Science
Have students research
porcelain. Ask: “What
enables the ingredients
to form such a fine
ceramic? What chemical
and physical processes
affect the clay from the
time it is in the ground
until the time it
becomes a fine vase?”
meeting
individual
NEEDS
Have students who
need a challenge
examine why women
have traditionally had
inferior status in
Chinese society,
research practices such
as foot binding, and
find out which
discriminatory practices
are still in use today.
Standards Links
7.1.2, 7.1.9, 7.1.10
page 71
Standard 1
7.1.8, 7.1.15
Activity (continued)
Standard 1
4. Describe how Neo-Confucianism swept the country and Buddhism
declined and how commerce increased as the invention of the
compass enabled sailors to sail great distances and compete for
trade with Arab sailors.
C. The Ming Dynasty
1. Explain to students that the Ming Dynasty may be most wellknown for its beautiful porcelain vases.
2. Explain to students that the Ming Dynasty replaced the Yuan
Dynasty, led by Mongols. Ming rulers destroyed the Mongol
palaces and rebuilt the capitol in Beijing in their own style.
3. Tell students that early in the Ming Dynasty, Chinese ships
sailed all the way to Africa and all over the region near
China. Chinese scholarship flourished and the era was one
of great stability.
4. Describe how, during the 1500s and early 1600s, the dynasty
began to collapse due to corrupt government practices. Tell
students that the weakened dynasty eventually gave way to
another dynasty, the Qing.
D. Developing Timelines
1. Give each student a copy of the BLM Dynasties and Kingdoms
and a pencil and review the directions with students.
2. As students work, circulate around the room to answer
any questions students have.
Questions for Review
Basic Concepts and Processes
As the class discusses the dynasties, ask students questions such as:
Which of the three dynasties lasted the longest?
Why did it last the longest?
Do you think it is fair for leaders to inherit their power?
What about for people to inherit money or a business? Why?
page 72
Standard 1 / Curriculum Framework / Activity 7
Indiana Social Studies Grade 7 Standards Resource, February 2003
Name:
Dynasties and Kingdoms
Start of the
Old Kingdom,
2700 B.C.E.
3000 B.C.E.
Start of the Early
Dynastic Period
Start of the
New Kingdom,
1560 B.C.E.
Start of the
Late Kingdom,
1070 B.C.E.
2000 B.C.E.
Start of the
Middle Kingdom
1000 B.C.E.
Saladin overthrows
Fatimid Dynasty,
1171 C.E.
0
Egypt granted
independence
from Great Britain,
1936 C.E.
1000 C.E.
2000 C.E.
EGYPT
Part A
Directions: Below the timeline labeled Egypt, make another timeline entitled
“Chinese Dynasties.” Put the information listed below on your timeline. When
you have finished your timeline, answer the questions in Part B below.
Label Timeline With:
Start of Tang Dynasty 618 C.E.
Start of Song Dynasty 960 C.E.
Start of Yuan Dynasty 1276 C.E.
Start of Ming Dynasty 1368 C.E.
End of Ming Dynasty 1644 C.E.
Part B
1. Which timeline covers the longest amount of time?
2. What is the earliest event on either timeline?
3. What is the most recent event on either timeline?
4. How long did the Ming Dynasty last?
5. About how long after the start of the Old Kingdom in Egypt did the Yuan Dynasty
start in China?
6. What dynasty was in power in China while Saladin was overthrowing the Fatimids?
7. How many dynasties are shown on the China timeline?
8. How long did the Middle Kingdom last?
Standard 1 / Curriculum Framework / Activity 7
Indiana Social Studies Grade 7 Standards Resource, February 2003
Black Line Master 1
page 73
Dynasties and Kingdoms
Teacher Directions
Give each student one copy of the BLM Dynasties and Kingdoms and a pencil. Go over the
directions with the students. Ask if there are any questions. Circulate around the room answering
any questions students might have.
Answer Key
Any reasonable answer similar to the following:
1. Egypt
2. start of Early Dynasty period, 3000 B.C.E
3. Egypt granted Independence, 1936
4. 276 years
5. 3,976 years
6. the Song Dynasty
7. four
8. about 440 years
Black Line Master 1
page 74
Standard 1 / Curriculum Framework / Activity 7
Indiana Social Studies Grade 7 Standards Resource, February 2003