Objectives:
* Students will be able to explain how a region's culture often reflects the response of the people of that region to their physical surroundings.
* Students will be able to show how landforms and distance limited Chinese contacts with the cultures of Africa, Southwest Asia and South Asia.
* Students will be able to explain why the Chinese cultural sphere extended rather to the south and east, encompassing the present-day countries of Japan, North and South Korea and Vietnam.
* Students will be able to list and explain the elements of Chinese culture, including the writing system and Confucian philosophy, which dominated in this sphere.
Overview:
China has had a traditional self-image as a cultural center of the world---the "Middle Kingdom". The circumstances that may have created this idea will be the focus of this plan. The Chinese believed that outsiders could join their culture or become assimilated into it. This belief in a "universalistic" culture has been an important factor in maintaining national unity among the many and diverse regions of China.
* Day 1:
All students will have read Chapter 1 (East Asia: Common Ground and Regional Differences) and Chapter 2 (Prehistory, Beginnings in China, and the Shang Dynasty) of East Asia A New History by Rhoads Murphey.
Students will read and discuss a short reading on East Asia from World Geography published by Prentice Hall, pages 634-637.
Using a map of East Asia, students will discuss and identify possible answers to the following questions:
* What natural barriers isolated China from the rest of the world?
* How did the Silk Road act as a channel for information and ideas?
* How did China's contacts with its Asian neighbors differ from its contacts with European nations?
* How do you think Chinese geography and history have contributed to the idea in the West that China is a mysterious country?
For homework, half of the class will use the text and illustrations to identify ideas and items that flowed outward from China. The other half will use the same to identify ideas/items that flowed inward to China.
Upon completion of this, students will be able to:
* illustrate ancient Chinese efforts toward both isolationism and expansion
* assess the extent and nature of China's cultural exchange with foreigners
* Day 2:
Students will discuss the results of the previous night's homework. Students will then write a paragraph explaining which influx they think might have had the greatest impact on Chinese society.
Students will be divided into 3 groups. One group will focus on China's influence on Vietnam (this group will be called Vietnam). One group will focus on China's influence on Korea (this group will be called Korea). One group will focus on China's influence on Japan (this group will be called Japan). Each group will be assigned readings specific to their country and focus.
* The Vietnam group will be assigned a reading from East Asia A New History by Rhoads Murphey. The reading will consist of pages 168-174 from Chapter 9 Premodern Vietnam and Korea.
* The Korea group will be assigned a reading from East Asia A New History by Rhoads Murphey. The reading will consist of pages 174-187 from Chapter 9 Premodern Vietnam and Korea.
* The Japan group will be assigned a reading from East Asia A New History by Rhoads Murphey. The reading will consist of pages188-207 from Chapter 10 Beginnings in Japan: Patterns and Origins.
Students in each group will use the reading assignments to pick specific Chinese influences on their country and research them. In their research, they must:
* Type a 2 page paper highlighting their chosen Chinese influence.
* List 3 web sites which give further information concerning their chosen Chinese influence.
* List 2 extra readings which give further information concerning their chosen Chinese influence.
* Create a 5 minute presentation, including a visual explaining the highlights of their chosen Chinese influence.
* Days 3, 4 & 5
Research
* Day 6 and if needed Day 7:
Individual group members will present their information (including visual) to the class.