Download Suggested Resources for Teachers

Suggested Resources for Teachers
Books
Anderson, Dale. Ancient China. Chicago, IL: Raintree, 2005.
This book explores how art provides primary source information about everyday
and family life, beliefs and religion, and philosophy in ancient China.
Art, Suzanne Strauss. The Story of Ancient China. Lincoln, MA: PemblewickPress, 2005
(2nd edition).
Written by a teacher, the book is a good introduction for middle school students to
the history of the early dynasties in China.
Challen, Paul C. Life in Ancient China. NY: Crabtree Publishing Company, 2004.
Text provides background on history, geography, rulers, people, life, arts, culture,
and eventual fate of ancient Chinese civilization. Includes colorful photographs,
illustrations, time lines, and artwork. Does not contain a bibliography.
Craig, Albert M. The Heritage of Chinese Civilization. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice
Hall, 2001.
An excellent overview text for adults.
Ebrey, Patricia Buckley, China. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
An excellent overview text for adults.
Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. Chinese Civilization: A Sourcebook. New York: The Free Press,
1993.
This sourcebook goes beyond the standard philosophical and political sources to
include personal documents and social history.
Feilong: The China Game. Warren, VT: Mamopalire of Vermont, Inc., 2004.
Feilong was developed by the Center for Asian Studies of the University of
Vermont in collaboration with educational game producer Mamopalire of
Vermont, Inc. This game is appropriate for grades 6-12 and is a good way to test
student knowledge of the history, culture, geography, and customs of China.
To order, visit the Mamopalire Web site: http://www.bethumpd.com/fechga.html
Lip, Evelyn. Out of China: Culture and Traditions. Wokingham, England: AddisonWesley, 1993.
In 158 pages, this book covers many topics of Chinese culture and the practice of
traditions today. Appropriate for middle and high school students.
Murowchick, Robert E., ed. Cradles of Civilization: China. Norman, OK: University of
Oklahoma Press, 1994.
An excellent resource written by leading scholars that includes wonderful images.
1
Shaughnessy, Edward L., general editor. China: Empire and Civilization. Cambridge,
UK: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Supples, Kevin. China. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2002.
Part of the “Civilizations Past to Present” series, this book compares a number of
aspects of life in ancient and present day China.
Vainker, S.J. Chinese Silk: A Cultural History. England: British Museum Press, 2004.
Videos/DVDs
Ancient China. Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities, 1999 (47 min.).
This program traces Chinese history from the creation legend of Panku to the
demise of the Han Dynasty and explores the roots of contemporary Chinese
culture.
Ancient China: A Journey Back in Time. West Long Branch, NJ: Kultur, 2000 (50 min.).
Part of the “Lost Treasures of the Ancient World” series, this volume uses both
computer animation and location footage to explore the history and architecture of
ancient China, including The Great Wall and Beijing’s Forbidden City. The film
also graphically recreates a Chinese village from seven thousand years ago.
Ancient China. Schlessinger Media, a division of Library Video Company, 1998 (23
min.).
A look at ancient China from the Shang Dynasty to the Han Dynasty (ca. 1700
B.C.E.–220 C.E.). The film focuses on contributions of the Chinese (calligraphy,
writing, silk, bronze, etc.), the unification of China, the Great Wall and the Silk
Road.
The Immortal Emperor. Princeton, NJ: Films for the Humanities & Sciences
[distributor], 1998 (50 min.).
It's 221 B.C.E., and the veil of history is lifted to reveal life in the Qin Dynasty
under China's first emperor, Shi Huangdi. Noted historians, archaeologists, and
other experts extrapolate from discoveries made in the ruler's tomb, as they
examine the political, intellectual, philosophical, artistic, and religious structure of
Chinese society of the first dynasty.
Web Sites
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
This site is packed with excellent context information and dozens of lesson plans.
www.atlanticava.org/webandcamsites/ancientchina.htm
This gateway site presents a huge selection of links covering almost every
conceivable China topic a student might be curious about.
2
www.AskAsia.org
This Asia Society Web site features resources, lesson plans, cultural information,
activities, links, and guides for educators and students alike.
http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/sitemap.htm
Students can research a range of topics from geography to military technology to
gardens on this excellent interactive site.
www.metmuseum.org/explore/china_dawn/index.html
The exhibit China: Dawn of a Golden Age, 200–750 A.D. at the Metropolitan
Museum in New York displays exceptional works of art from forty-six
institutions in the People’s Republic of China, all of which have been excavated
in recent decades and many of which have never been seen before in the West.
This Web feature is aimed at elementary and secondary schoolteachers and
students, and augments the online overview of the special exhibition. The works
of art presented were selected to engage students in a visual exploration of the
principal historical, cultural, and artistic themes of the exhibition.
www.ancientchina.co.uk/menu.html
The Ancient China site of the British Museum includes information about
artisans, geography, time, tombs and ancestors, and writing. Each topic contains a
story, artifacts to explore, and challenges to complete.
www.fordham.edu/halsall/eastasia/eastasiasbook.html
The Internet East Asia History Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and
copy-permitted historical texts and images for educational use collected by Paul
Halsall at Fordham University. The site and the documents are well organized and
include bibliographic information and questions for discussion.
www.besthistorysites.net/AncientBiblical_China.shtml
This site is a portal to many excellent history Web sites on the topic of China.
Created and maintained by a Massachusetts teacher, the site is annotated and
carefully organized and monitored to ensure working links and accurate content.
www.think2learn.com/china/index.html
This “Windows on China” site includes categorized and annotated links to more
than 350 sites related to the study of China.
http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/images.html#Customs
This Brooklyn College site gives access to scores of images arranged by category.
3