Mr. Berman - Social Studies 9R
Unit # 4: Ancient China Assignment Sheet
HW C-1: Chinese
Geography
HW C-2:
The Shang and Zhou
Dynasties
Read pages 50-51 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. Between which two rivers is the heartland of China found?
What did these rivers provide to the people of ancient China?
2. Describe three environmental challenges that the people of
early China faced.
Read pages 51-55 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. What were the characteristics of Shang cities? What did they
have in common with the cities of the Sumerians?
2. What family obligations did a Chinese person have?
3. How was family linked to religious beliefs in China?
4. What were oracle bones? What were they used for?
5. How did writing help to unite China?
6. How is the dynastic cycle connected to the Mandate of Heaven?
HW C-3:
Confucianism
7. What were the major achievements of the Zhou Dynasty? Why
did this dynasty start to lose power around the 700s B.C.?
Read pages 104-105 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. Define the following terms: (a) Confucius, (b) filial piety, (c)
bureaucracy.
2. Write a paragraph (at least 5-7 sentences) answering the
following question: How did Confucius believe that social order,
harmony and good government could be restored to China?
HW C-4:
Daoism and Legalism
Read pages 105-107 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. Define the following terms: (a) Daoism, (b) Legalism, (c) I
Ching, (d) yin and yang.
2. Answer the two Skillbuilder questions on page 106.
3. Do a little internet research on hippies from the 1960s. Provide
a brief description of who they were and what they believed in.
4. Based on your research and your understanding from the
reading, do you think hippies would embrace the ideas of
Daoism? Why or why not?
5. How did the Legalists think that a society could be made to run
well?
HW C-5: The Qin
Dynasty
Read pages 107-109 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. Define the following terms: (a) Qin Dynasty, (b) Shi Huangdi,
(c) autocracy
2. What measures did Shi Huangdi take to crush political
opposition and prevent criticism of his government?
3. What were the positive and negative effects of Shi Huangdi’s
rule?
4. Would a ruler who followed Confucian or Daoist ideas have
built the Great Wall of China? Why or why not?
HW C-6: The Han
Dynasty (Part 1)
Read pages 200-203 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. Define the following terms: (a) Han Dynasty, (b) centralized
government, (c) civil service
2. Answer the two Geography Skillbuilder: Interpreting Maps
questions on page 201.
3. How important were Confucian teachings in the lives of people
in the Han Empire? Provide details to support your answer.
HW C-7: The Han
Dynasty (Part 2)
Read pages 203-207 in the textbook. Answer these questions:
1. What were some advancements in technology under the Han
Dynasty?
2. How did the Han Chinese attempt to assimilate conquered
peoples?
3. What role did women play in Han society?
4. What problem do you think was most responsible for
weakening the Han Dynasty? Explain