Medieval China

Unit Highlights

In this unit, students will analyze primary and secondary sources to explain the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of China in the Middle Ages. Students will be able to:

  • Explain the causes of the reunification of China under the Tang Dynasty

  • Explain the causes of the spread of Buddhism in Tang China, Korea, and Japan

  • Classify Tang and Sung achievements

  • Explain how Confucianism influenced and changes during the Sung and Mongol Period.

  • Explain the importance of overland trade during the Mongol Ascendancy and Ming Dynasty.

  • Evaluate the importance of maritime expeditions during the Mongol Ascendancy and Ming Dynasty.

  • Rank and classify the impact Chinese discoveries and inventions had on the world.

  • Explain the causes of the rise of the imperials state and the scholar-official class.

Flocabulary

Unit Vocabulary

  • Buddhism

  • Civil Service Examinations

  • Compass

  • Confucianism

  • Emperor

  • The Grand Canal

  • Gunpowder

  • Maritime expeditions

  • Merit system

  • Ming Dynasty

  • Mongol Period

  • Neo-Confucianism

  • Porcelain

  • Printing

  • Scholar-official class

  • Silk Road

  • Song Dynasty

  • Tang Dynasty

  • Tea

  • Zheng He

Activity 1: Medieval China Pre-Test

Using your prior knowledge, brainstorm, list, and/or draw what you know about Medieval China in a thinking map. Complete this assignment on the Thinking Maps Learning Community or on paper. You may include:

  • Information you know or kind of know about Medieval China.

  • Guesses about Medieval China.

  • Questions you have about Medieval China.

  • Information you would like to know about Medieval China.

  • What comes to mind when you think of Medieval China.