Weekly Module overview

Like India, China experienced dramatic changes in the last few centuries BCE and first centuries CE. These changes included themes which we have discussed in previous weeks from the role of rivers to drive society to the important role outsiders play in the development of civilization.

The Chinese nation-state we think of today draws many important cultural and geographical elements from the topics covered in Chapter 4. We will focus on the events which occur prior to 220 CE. As you're reading the textbook and reviewing the course PowerPoint, please be sure to consider the factors we've discussed in previous weeks: geography, family life, role of technology and religion, in society. Next week we'll focus more on the rise of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism when we review the role of religion more carefully.

The Qin empire, though short lived, was incredibly important to the development of modern China. Qin Shi Huang, known as the First Emperor, rose to power during the Warring States Period. This period of intense conflict ultimately transformed China into the dynastic empires that would last until 1911. Focused not just on military prowess but also intellectual theories, the period we study this week sculpted Chinese society dramatically.

Weekly To Do List

Complete before class on Tuesday.

Read these Course Documents:
- Sunzi (Art of War)
- Ode 235, Mandate of Heaven
(Links to an external site.)Watch the required lecture videos below
Click NEXT to reach the assigned textbook pages.

Come to class on Tuesday

Take quiz by Friday.
Optional: begind next week's reading/watching when new module opens on Satuday.

Watch These Required Lecture Videos

0:57 minutes

2:22 minutes

5:20 minutes

6:13 minutes

Click NEXT to read the textbook pages.