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Han Webquest

Picture
Task:
You will be assuming the role of a person in one of the Han dynasty's social classes.  You will choose to become a person from one of the following social classes: Artisans, The Imperial family, Merchants, Nobles, Officials, Peasants, or Soldiers.  You will learn about the social class you are entering and write several  journal entries as a person from that class. 

Consider what life must have been like during the Han Dynasty. Think of your surrounding environment, how you entertain yourself, what type of work you do, how life has changed since the Shang, Zhou  and Qin dynasties, and what might make life better for you - trade, money, government and inventions.


Process:
Step 1.  Learn some background information about life in the Han Dynasty.


Use the following sites to help you along.

http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22724.htm

http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/chinahist/han.html

Step 2.  Assume the role of a person from a social class.

Click on the file below the picture of your social class to read about the  social class you have chosen:

Artisans

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(Painting of various artisans working with wood, stone, and lacquer paint. This scene is painted in ink and colors on the Yuan dynasty handscroll made of paper.)
handoutartisans.pdf
File Size: 1048 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Imperial Family

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(A 12th century painting of soldiers carrying banners in a procession as they escort the first Han emperor, Liu Bang, to the capital city of Chang An)
handoutimperialfamily.pdf
File Size: 1144 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Merchants

Picture
(14th century painting of a merchant selling medicinal remedies such as bones, plants, and powders. This scene is painted in ink and colors on a Yuan dynasty handscroll made of paper)
handoutmerchants.pdf
File Size: 1210 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Nobles

Picture
(Painting of five Han nobles conversing and wearing elegant clothing. The second figure from the left carries a stylized umbrella. The figures are painted in ink and colors on whitewashed earthenware tiles. The painting was found on the lintel of a Han tomb that dates between 50 B.C.E. and 50 C.E.)
handoutnobles.pdf
File Size: 1175 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Officials

Picture
(An 11th century painting of a northern Qi scholar official dressed in red and sitting on a folding stool. As he writes, he is assisted by servants who hold the paper, prepare a new brush, carry bundles of finished texts, and review the writing. This scene is painted in ink and colors on a northern Song dynasty handscroll made of silk)
handoutofficials.pdf
File Size: 1145 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Peasants

Picture
(Painting of peasants working in a rice field. The figures on the path are carrying rice sprouts, which the figures in the foreground are planting in the field)
handoutpeasants.pdf
File Size: 1283 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Soldiers

Picture
(A Qing dynasty painting of third-century soldiers engaged in battle. This painting appears on the Long Promenade, a covered walkway that is part of the Imperial Summer Palace in Beijing)
handoutsoldiers.pdf
File Size: 1283 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Additional Useful Information:
Wikipedia-- Han Dynasty

Social Structure
Culture
Clothing
Religion
Government
Economy
Inventions
Achievements


(you may use additional credible outside sources, but be sure to cite!)
Step 3.  Write your journal entries.

In your journal entries describe with detail:  Who you are (list of popular Chinese names)?  What did you do?  Who did you come in contact with?
*Remember you are assuming a role; write this journal entry as if you were really there. 

Journal Entry One: Introduce yourself and your surroundings (Who are you? What is your name? How old are you? Male/female? Do you practice a religion or philosophy? What kinds of clothing do you wear, things do you own, house do you live in? Area of China?)

Journal Entry Two: What do you do? (Daily life? type of work?  H ow do you make money? Who do you live with?) How do you live?

Journal Entry Three: How are you treated compared to the other social classes of the Han Dynasty?

Journal Entry Four: What inventions and innovations have changed your life and how? Who have you come in contact with?

Journal Entry Five: Describe the differences between how you live, and how your ancestors lived during the Shang and Zhou dynasties
(you may use information previously learned in other webquests/in class).

Each journal entry needs to be at least 5-10 sentences long.  Spelling and grammar count!

Step 4:  Reflect

Write a reflection (1-2 paragraphs) about why you chose the person you did. 
Why did you want to research that role? 
What was most interesting about it? 
Do you think you would have liked to live in ancient China?
What inventions during this time period benefited you?

Step 5: Bibliography

Remember to cite you sources of information on a separate sheet of paper APA style.
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