LESSON 7.2 How do we know about ancient China?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to: • explain what we know about ancient China • explain how to use sources.
Tune in In 1928, almost 100 000 engraved bones and turtle shells were found near Anyang. They had early Chinese writing on them. 1. This bone was found covered in the earliest known Chinese writing. Mind map why you think people would have written onbone. 2. What do you think the writing could have been about? 3. How were these inscriptions important for Shang rulers or religious practices?
SOURCE1 Shang dynasty inscriptions on bone
7.2.1 Examining the evidence about ancient China Many sources tell us about ancient China, from the Great Wall to writings by poets and historians. People settled along China’s Huang River about 6000 years ago. Inscriptions from the Shang dynasty mention harvests, rainfall and animals. By this time, the Chinese had developed writing on bone and turtle shells (refer to SOURCE1 ). Inscriptions show that they believed that China was a place of civilisation surrounded by barbarians. Archaeological ýnds show the rich cultures of the Qin and Han dynasties. One exciting discovery was made in 1974 when local farmers found a huge army of life-size terracotta warriors (see SOURCE2 ). These warriors guard the tomb of China’s ýrst emperor, Qin Shihuang. Archaeologists think there are about 7000 clay warriors and 600 clay horses in the tomb.
186 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 7 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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