LT: Describe how China became an empire and the impact of their architectural feats and inventions.
Questions to help you:
1. How does an empire typically begin? What are the signs that one civilization might be poised to become a longlasting empire? What happened for China to become an empire?
They have a good food and water resource. They have an army and want to conquer other groups. A typical empire
begins with a smart or cunning leader.
2. Where are the biggest cities in empires typically located? Why do you think this is? What advantages does
the terrain (landscape) pose? Disadvantages? Where were the biggest cities located in China? Why? What
were the advantages of where China geographically?
They are typically located near a water source. They are located near a water source because water is a necessity
for crops and to transport goods and people. Terrain can pose an advantage when you are protected by it. For example the
United States being located between two oceans makes it nearly an impossible country to attack from certain areas.
During World War II, the United States unlike many other countries only had a few local causalities on its own soil. Fun
fact it was in Oregon. One disadvantage the terrain poses for the United States is that the vast distance between the United
States and other countries makes it difficult to trade or travel between the USA and other countries. The biggest cities in
the Chinese empire were located near the rivers. They were located near the rivers because it was easy to transport good
sand people. Looking at my map from entry 38 I noticed that China is protected by the Gobi and (other long desert name).
It also has access to the ocean and rivers. On the south border, it is protected by the Himalayans. The Himalayans made it
difficult for other countries to attack China from the South. They also provide a main water source for the Chinese rivers.
3. Why do you think leaders of empires place great importance on building architectural monuments? How do these
monuments shape their legacy? Do you think they intended for the structures to last forever? What were some
architectural monuments China had? Why were they important? How did it shape their legacy?
APATHY
THEY WANT TO BE REMEMBERED or have a great afterlife. The society or their reign to be remembered.
So you let people know what happened in the past. Your achievements are remembered. Sometimes they want them to last
forever. The Great Wall and that tomb and the terracotta soldiers protecting the tomb.
4. What costs are involved in building a great structure? Do you think the final product is worth the cost? Why?
What was the cost of all the great architectural monuments in China to the average Chinese person?
Some costs involved in building a great structure are money, life, and RESOURCES!!!!!!!!!!!
1/5 of the population worked on the wall. Many of them were buried into the wall after they died.
Can cause a rebellion against the government.
5. What inventions have great empires created? What inventions do you know that the Chinese created? How do
these impact you today?
LT: The cause and effects of the Opium War
1. What was China’s policy towards foreign trade before? Why does it matter that in Chinese, China means the
Middle Kingdom? How does this relate to their attitude towards other countries?
2. Why did countries and other empires want to trade with China? Why couldn’t they?
3. What caused Britain to go to war with China during the Opium Wars?
4. What were the immediate effects of the Opium War on China?
5. What were the long term effects of the Opium War on China?