Geography of China’s River Valleys Section 1 Geography of China’s River Valleys

Group 1 Questions: This map is amazingly accurate for being created in 1418 A.D., how did the Chinese know about lands in the Western Hemisphere without modern satellite technologies? Study this ancient map, what are the four continents pictured in this map?

Group 2 Questions: This turtle like dragon at China’s Forbidden Palace represents the power and gift of rainwater and the force of the rivers. How was water used in ancient china? Why did the Chinese use dragons to represent rivers in ancient China? 3. Study the size of this statue compared to the buildings in the picture, what does this say about the importance and relevancy of the statue?

Group 3 Questions: This statue is along the Yellow River (Huang He), what do you think would be a good name for this statue and why? Answers will vary but should have a mother like theme to the answer; Mother of the Yellow River, like a mother gives life to the child, the river gives life to the people. This statue is carved from pink granite based on its design and look what time period was it carved? 1986

Group 4 Questions: Study this artifact carefully, what are the people on the river bank looking at? What type of event could this possibly be? A Dragon Boat/races Why were the rivers so important to Chinese culture? In what ways do we celebrate water today in our culture?

Group 5 Questions: Study this picture carefully. What do you think this is made from? Why do you think the ancient Chinese chose to write these? A turtle shell/ answers will vary but should focus on durability and/or availability. 4000 year old turtle shell writing from the Shang Dynasty.

Group 6 Questions: This object is made of bronze from the Shang Dynasty (1700-1000 BCE), what do you think the object was used for and why? Drinking vessel, the trunk could serve as a handle Why do you think the Chinese used elephants as objects of art?

Group 7 Questions: Study this photograph, what are the people in the picture doing ? They are furrowing rows to plant crops 2. When do you think this picture was taken? Why did you chose this year? 3. Are these ancient or modern farming technologies?

Group 8 Questions: This image is from the Ming Dynasty, what does the picture appear to be of? An extended family Which person in the picture seems to be the most important and why? Male in center of the picture, head of the household Families are very important in Chinese culture, they would be the first culture that would give people two names (first & last), however in Chinese culture the family name comes first followed by the person’s first name. Why do you think this is? Because the importance is placed on who your family is and which family you came from more so than who you are as an individual.

End of Section 1 Using Primary Sources