Exploring the Middle Ages Class Summary 11/10/14

with Kim Rodgers

Great Dynasties of China

Monday was a busy day! We finished up our game from the previous week before going over our notebooking and maps. We jumped into the Great Dynasties of China where we learned about the separation of the north and the south. The people on the opposite ends of the kingdom had animosity towards one another until Emperor Yang Chien took over the kingdom and united the two, creating the Sui Dynasty. The Yellow and Yangtze Rivers had cut the kingdom in two because they were very difficult to cross. In order to encourage relationship through trade and accessibility the emperors built the Grand Canal. Unfortunately, it was a heavy load for the Chinese people. They were forced to pay taxes 10 years in advance and every man between the ages of 15-50 had to dig the canal by hand. In addition, each family had to volunteer a woman, a child, and an elderly man. Needless to say it took its toll on the people. So much so that Emperor Yangdi was eventually killed. When the next emperor took over, he began the Golden Age of China under the Tang Dynasty. Education flourished, art and music were explored, printing was discovered, and eccentricities became the norm. Some women even wore skirts made from the feathers of 100 birds!

After looking through a book about Chinese characters we took squares of cardboard and made stamps using string. Each student chose a character and drew it on the cardboard. They cut string into small pieces and covered them with white glue, forming them over the image they had drawn. We didn’t have time to finish these in class, so please have them finish at home and bring in. We will be using them in class on Monday. They are welcome to make more than one if they would like to. 

Chinese character for rain

Next Week: Japan & Korea

Next week we’ll study Japan and Korea and their relationship with China. We’ll practice writing haikus and try our hand at origami. See you Monday!