Ancient and Imperial China

What the resources cover

The unit runs from early Chinese civilisation to the twentieth century. The mind maps carry much of the load: Chinese Dynasties sets out the Shang as the first dynasty, with pictograms and symbols that underpin the modern Chinese language. Ancient china Civilization 1 looks at social structure and job specialisation, from the emperor and civil servants to peasants, crafts people and merchants. Further maps cover the Qin, Han and Sui dynasties, the Warring States Period and Chinese Philosophies.

Later dynasties and modern China

The Tang and Song dynasties have the most material. The mind map Tang and Song Dynasties Golden Ages in China gives the dates and the Confucian values behind them. The flashcard deck Important Terms and Ideas in the Tang and Song Dynasties covers terms such as tributary state, land reform, gentry, dowry and pagoda. The Ming Dynasty mind map follows Zhu Yuanzhang and Zheng He. For the twentieth century, try The Long March (1934-35) and Chinese civil war 1946 - 1949.

Where to start

1. Open a broad mind map such as Chinese Dynasties to get the order of events.
2. Take the quiz TCI History Alive - Chapter 20 - The Shang Dynasty to check the earliest period.
3. Move on to the Tang and Song notes and flashcards.
4. Finish with China - Cultural Revolution for the modern period.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a map first, then close it and take a quiz on the same dynasty. Any question you miss tells you which branch to reread. Flashcard decks work well for vocabulary, and the notes give a fuller account. Some resources mention exams such as AP World History and GCSE History, so teachers can pick material that suits their class.

Where it fits

This unit sits in the Foundations and the Ancient World strand of History. Choose one dynasty today and work through its map, deck and quiz.