Forbidden City
an Introduction to China
History of China - rule of dynasties

Ancient China’s history is divided into dynasties and dates back to 2000
B.C.

A dynasty is a succession of rulers from the same family.

The Chinese believed that their rulers were divinely selected. They
called this process the Mandate of Heaven.

The Chinese had eleven major dynasties before a
revolution put an end to the last emperor in 1911.
early Chinese dynasties
DYNASTY
culture
art
philosophy
HSIA
2000-1500 BC
millet and wheat cultivated
potter’s wheel used
animals domesticated
black pottery
SHANG
1500-1122 BC
writing invented
silkworms for silk
wheel used on chariots
white pottery
worked bronze
marble and ivory
jade and turquoise
belief in spirit world
filial piety
ancestor worship
ZHOU
1123-256 BC
astronomy advanced
crossbow invented
lacquer
Confucianism
Taoism
CH’IN
221-206 BC
Great Wall built
HAN
202BC-AD222
iron sword used
soybean cultivated
legalism official
policy
wall painting
Confucianism
official policy
leaders
Ch’in Shih
took title of
Emperor
early Chinese dynasties
dynasty
culture
SUI 589-618
Grand Canal built
T’ANG 618-906
building of schools
golden age of poetry,
literature, art, music
SUNG 960-1279
inventions of magnetic compass,
paper money, book printing
golden age of painting
porcelain
YUAN/MONGOL
1279-1368
increase in trade abroad
use of gunpowder as a weapon
Genghis Khan
Kublai Khan
MING
1368-1644
Forbidden City built
Yung-lo Encyclopedia of Chinese
writings
Grand Fleet makes China an
international naval power
Chu Yuan-Chang
QUING/MANCHU
1644-1911
art
leaders
Yang Ti
Wu Chao, first
female emperor
Empress
Dowager Tz’u-hsi
the Forbidden City, 2012
In ancient times if Chinese working citizens stepped foot on
the wrong pathways within the walls of the Forbidden City;
they, and all their family members would be executed.
Republican China (1911-1949)

Sun Yatsen (leader of Chinese
Nationalist Party) and Chinese
Communist Party gain support
from the Soviet Union.

He became the first president
of The Republic of China and
embarked on a road to
modernizing China.

Mao Zedong later proclaimed
the creation of the People's
Republic of China.
Mao Zedong

Attracted to the nationalist ideas of Sun Yat-sen, Mao
Zedong joined the army when he was 18 and fought in
the revolution that overthrew the Manchu dynasty in
1911.

Several years later, while studying at Peking (Beijing)
University, he came across the teachings of Karl Marx,
and committed his life to the ideas of socialism.

Eventually he became the leader of the Communist
revolution and then chairman of the People’s Republic of
China (P.R.C.) from 1949 to 1959. Mao remained
chairman of the Communist party until his death in 1976.
Deng Xiaoping

Deng Xiaoping emerged as the new
leader in 1978 and immediately launched
an economic reform plan.

His goal was a wealthy, modern,
powerful China -- one worthy of
international respect. His method was
the open door, establishing ties with the
United States and other Western
nations, encouraging international
investment, private enterprise, family
farming, and other aspects of a market
economy.
Peaceful demonstrations, May 1989

As 'new ideas' spread to the
masses, economic reforms and
movements demanding
democratization occurred all over
China.

These demonstrations came to a
head in Tiananmen Square in May,
1989.

The masses of students and citizens
wouldn't withdraw from Tiananmen
Square. And finally on June 4,
martial force occupied Tiananmen
Square and opened fire on the
crowd.

During the progression more than
two hundred people died. The
actual number is likely much larger.
Pictures of the demonstrations:
Calling for freedom and democracy, demonstrating students surround
policemen near Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Thursday
afternoon on May 4, 1989.

A Chinese couple on
a bicycle take cover
at an underpass
while tanks deploy
overhead in eastern
Beijing, China on
June 5, 1989.
A Chinese man stands alone to block a line of tanks heading east on Beijing's
Cangan Blvd. in Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. The man, calling for an end
to the recent violence and bloodshed against pro-democracy demonstrators, was
pulled away by bystanders, and the tanks continued on their way.
The bodies of dead civilians lie among mangled bicycles near Beijing's
Tiananmen Square early June 4, 1989.
images of Tiananmen Square (today)
Entrance to the Forbidden City

2012

Inside the Forbidden City,

Documentary, series
trailer
Forbidden City – the novel

“Seventeen-year-old Alex Jackson is thrilled when his father, a
cameraman with the CBC, asks Alex to join him on assignment in
China. Not only will he get some time off from school, but Alex, who is
a Chinese history buff, knows this trip is the chance of a lifetime.

Alex and his dad could not have predicted that they would get caught
up in the historic events that begin to sweep China in the spring of
1989.

As students and civilians demonstrate for democracy in Tian An Men
Square, Alex experiences the thrill of being a reporter. However, his
excitement turns to horror and dismay as the movement becomes
violent. Alex and his father know they must communicate the story to
the rest of the world, but at what cost to their own lives?”
U4L2 Assignment
Read the PDF file 'China' in Lesson Two
 Review the website,'Visual Sourcebook...'
 Be sure to write China Background Quiz this
week.
- Time limit – 2 hours
- No password
- Be sure to write by the end of the week.

U4L3 – Making Predictions Assignment

Answer each in complete sentences and in such a way that your reader will
know what question was asked.

What do you now know about the nature of the protagonist, Alexander
Jackson?
>Insert answer here<
What is Alex's attitude towards China?
>Insert answer here<
What do you know about China?
>Insert answer here<
How do you feel about China?
>Insert answer here<
What do you expect will happen in the remainder of the story? Why?
>Insert answer here<

Imagine that you are Alex, having viewed ONE of the places in the links you
just explored.
Write the travel diary entry that would describe the site to Mr. Jones, your
history teacher.
Your entry must be at least ten sentences long and full of vivid, specific
details.
1989: Massacre in Tiananmen Square

Watch the following BBC video coverage of the massacre
in Tiananmen Square

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/4/
newsid_2496000/2496277.stm