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Mary Help of Christians College – Salesian Sisters, Inc.

Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna
PAASCU ACCREDITED LEVEL III
S.Y. 2020 – 2021

SOCIAL STUDIES UNIT 4

ANCIENT
CIVILIZATIONS
AND EMPIRES
IN ASIA

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 SESSION 1

Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. examine the important events in Chinese Civilization.

2. identify the legacies of ancient Chinese Civilization.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION LEGACIES OF ANCIENT CHINESE CIVILIZATION

In East Asia emerged another ancient civilization near a river around 2000 B.C.E., the
Chinese civilization. China is surrounded by natural boundaries. These separated
Chinese civilization from other civilizations in Asia. Two rivers, Yangtze and Huang Ho
played important roles in the emergence of this civilization. As in other ancient Asian
civilizations, the rivers were both beneficial and destructive to the people. Huang Ho
River is known as the “Cradle of Chinese civilization” and “China's Sorrow.”

The ancient Chinese built communities in the river-valley, not only because the soil here
was fertile, but also because the surrounding deserts and mountains were not suitable
for farming.

The Shang civilization was the first dynasty to be recorded in Chinese history. It flourished
from 1532-1027 B.C.E. One of its important cities was Anyang. Based on the ruins and
artifacts found, the Shang dynasty built grand palaces and tombs. Houses were
commonly made of wood. The city was fortified with high walls, which served as
protection against foreign invasions.

Map of China

The natural boundaries of ancient China: the Pacific Ocean in the east; the Taklimakan
Desert and Tibetan Plateau in the west; the Himalayas in the southwest; and the Gobi
Desert and Mongolian Plateau in the north.

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The Shang Dynasty was governed by warlords. Other nobles paid taxes to them so the
nobles could still rule in their occupied territories. The peasants were the lowest class in
society.

LEGACIES OF ANCIENT CHINESE CIVILIZATION

FAMOUS SIGNIFICANT CAUSE OF THE FALL

DYNASTY
LEADER CONTRIBUTIONS OF CIVILIZATION
From the unearthed
oracle bones, Zhou
Conquest or bones used
in fortune telling, an
ancient writing system,
Shang
Shang family composed of Zhou Conquest
(1532-1027 B.C.E.)
pictographs and which
became basis of modern
Chinese characters, was
discovered.

It was the longest

dynasty which reigned
for 900 years. It started
Qin claimed victory
the belief in the
over he Zhou and
Mandate of Heaven and
other five states in
the dynastic cycle.
Zhou the civil war which
China became known
(1024-256 B.C.E.) broke out during the
for its silk which reached
Warring States
the central Asia and
Period (475-221
Europe. Confucianism
B.C.E.)
and Taoism also rose
from this period.

Shi Huangdi governed

based on Legalism, strict
implementation or
obedience to the law.
He built a strong
centralized government
and small districts for
easy governance. He
ordered the use of a
uniform language,
writing system, money,
currency, and weights
Qin and measures. He also Revolts after Shi
Shi Huangdi
(221-206 B.C.E.) commanded the Huang-di’s death
construction of the Great
Wall to prevent attacks
by the nomadic people
from south of the Gobi
Desert. He ordered the
construction of 600 life-
size statues of soldiers,
known as the terracotta
warriors, and 1400
chariots to guard his
tomb.

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 Order was restored in
China under the rule of
Liu Bang. He combined
Liu Bang (also
Han the ideas of Legalism
known as
(202-221 B.C.E.) and Confucianism in
Gaozu)
governing and ceased
harsh punishment.

He expanded the Han

Corrupt and weak
Dynasty with 300 000
leaders resulted to
warriors and introduced
another civil war
civil service
examinations. During his
reign, China achieved
Wudi
Pax Sinica, "Period of
Chinese Peace." Silk
Road, a transport
passage for traders of
silk, became famous.

He built the Grand

Canal, which connected
the Huang Ho and Forced labor and
Sui Yangtze rivers, thus exaction of high
Sui Yangdi
(581-618 C.E.) making the transport of taxes led the
products to the north people to rebel
faster.

Considered as a great
dynasty, it expanded its
territory; redeveloped The dynasty fell
Tang Chang'an, and because of internal
(619- 907 C.E.) constructed huge conflicts foreign
foreign invasions palaces invasions
and temples.

The dynasty built

infrastructures like canal,
irrigation, and roads; and
Dynasty revived literature
and the arts such as
Song landscape painting. It Mongols destroyed
(960– 1279) was also during this Song Dynasty
dynasty when the
compass and
gunpowder were
invented.

It is the first foreign

dynasty in China.
Transportation and Under Zhu
communication were Yuanzhang, the
Yuan improved; stations for Chinese rebelled
(1278- 1368) foreign visitors were also due to grave
built. Kublai Khan corruption
received Marco Polo, an prevailing poverty
Italian explorer who
wrote The Travels of

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 Marco Polo. Polo's book
described the beauty
and grandeur of China.

Yongle assigned Zheng

He to lead the
expeditions to Southeast
Asia from 1405 to 1433.
MING
Yongle The Ming Dynasty
(1368 - 1644) Machu conquest
(Zhu D.) imposed isolationism, or
cutting off from any
foreign relations. This
policy lasted for 250
years.

How did the geographic features of China affect civilization?

How was the Huang Ho River destructive and beneficial to the ancient Chinese?

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 SESSION 2

Objectives:

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. identify the similarities and differences of the three ancient Asian civilizations.
2. create an essay on the contributions of ancient Asian civilizations.

List down the similarities and differences among the three ancient Asian civilizations
using a chart below.

Mesopotamian
Indus Civilization Chinese Civilization
Civilization

Similarities

Differences

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Write an essay about the importance of the contributions of Ancient civilizations to
mankind. Consider the following criteria for grading the essay.

ESSAY RUBRIC
Standards Descriptions Points Points Earned

The essay is relevant to the theme. It contains

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specific ideals.

The essay has an organized flow of ideas.

Organization There is also good transition between 7
paragraphs.

Words and punctuations used are

Presentation 5
appropriate.
Total 20

Reference

Cruz, M. A.; Fietas, M. A.; & Mercado, M. M. (2015) World History. Vibal Publishing House,
Inc.