Ancient China WebQuests

What in the world is a webquest?- an explanation for teachers & parents

Searching For China (modern)

Ancient China Scavenger Hunt

Arts- Virtual Art Exhibitions & Museums

• World Mythology: Ancient China :
  • Minneapolis Institute of Arts This page is part of a larger site on world mythology which brings together 24 works of art inspired by mythology around the world. There are two images from China: a presentation box and a dragon robe. By clicking on either picture, you will discover more about the symbolism of both pieces i.e. the dragon and the peach.
• China: 5000 Years. :
  • Guggenheim Museum in New York An online exhibition from the Guggenheim Museum in New York. Here is a feature article (with illustrations) on the exhibition from Artnet Magazine China Unearthed.
• East Meets West:
  • Chinese and European Painting 600 - 1900 AD : Tzu-Ching Lin, The University of the Arts A comprehensive project highlighting the parallel development in artistic traditions and techniques between European and Chinese painters.
• See the Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty and Postcards of the Terra Cotta Warriors
• Tales from the Land of the Dragon:
  • A Thousand Years of Chinese Paintings Here is an online exhibition of Chinese painting drawn from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' permanent collection. The collection is organized by themes such as tales and legends, landscapes, daily life, Buddhism, Confucianism etc.
• The Splendors of Imperial China:
  • Asian Art Museum of San Francisco An exhibition from the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco which spans over 4.000 years of Chinese history and features many of the finest and most famous works from the National Palace Museum, Taipe. Included in the exhibition are priceless paintings, jades, bronzes, ceramics,textiles and lacquerware.
• Treasures of a Chinese Scholar :
  • University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology A virtual exhibition from the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. The exhibition features selections of extraordinary "scholar art"-calligraphy, painting, and works of art in wood, lacquer, ivory, stone, horn and metal-from as early as the Zhou Dynasty (770-256 B.C.) through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 A.D.).
• Far Eastern Art Gallery :
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art An online exhibition from their permanent collection of Chinese art.
• Indianapolis Museum of Art: Asian
  • Art Collection The core of the Asian art collection is the Eli Lilly Collection of Chinese Art, which includes all media. It is one of the finest comprehensive collections of Chinese art built by an individual in the United States. The Web site features a number of objects in their featured object of the week pages.
• China The Beautiful- Classical Chinese Art, Calligraphy, Poetry, History, Literature, Painting and Philosophy
• Dragons in Ancient China
  • Dragons in Chinese architecture, paintings, and on royal robes
• Make Chinese Chopsticks and a snack to use them with!
• Become acquainted with four types of Chinese Dragons
• Art of China Homepage

• The Forbidden City A Virtual Tour
• Walk the Great Wall
• Visit the Forbidden City
• City of Anyang, China An'yang - Ancient Capital of the Yin Shang Dynasties
• Anyang and the Oracle Bones

• Xiang Qi: The Art of Chinese Chess Plus the Art, Literature, and History of its Mother Country: ThinkQuest '97
  • This is a must-see site. A student entry for the ThinkQuest '97 contest, it is full of information, well-designed with surprising elements on each page. The Museum is a model of how to use copyright information online (don't miss the gift shop). The site is interactive (including scavenger hunt) and fun. The library is full of material on Chinese history, philosophy and mythology and visitors to the temple can learn about Chinese religions. There's even time out for a visit to the cafeteria before going to the comprehensive online tutorial on Xiang Qi.
• Anyang and the Oracle Bones
• Chinese History- a list of each dynasty - many links
• Learn about the Shang Dynasty from a 6th grade class (S6B6.1)
• Investigate Ancient China
• Discover China: The Middle Kingdom
• Read about Daily Life in Ancient China
• Figure out feudalism
• Ancient China: Chapter Six:
  • Dr. Silvestri, Instructor, Buckley School,Sherman Oaks, CA Course notes which outline the history of Ancient China - including the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties. Additional topics include: early Chinese cultural and intellectual development and Chinese philosophy and religion.
• Chronology of Ancient Chinese History :
  • WebChron: The Web Chronology Project, Department of History, North Park University Here is a timetable of Chinese dynasties and important events. Short articles about the Shang dynasty, Zhou dynasty, Lao-tse, Qin dynasty, Former Han dynasty and Later Han dynasty. There are links to a images and maps including: Historical Map of the Shang Dynasty, Historical Map of the Qin Dynasty, Historical Map of the Han Dynasty, and a Map of the Silk Road.
• History of China,
  • Leon Poon, University of Maryland Leon Poon from the University of Maryland has republished the contents of the history portion of the Army Area Handbook on China. Specifically, the history section was written by Rinn-Sup Shinn and Robert L. Worden. THe site includes hypertext chronologies, contents and a search engine. An excellent introduction to this subject. In addition there are links to other Web projects.
• Condensed China :
  • Paul Frankenstein, Webmaster and Editor An introduction to Chinese history. It is not a complete history of China; rather more like ''Chinese History: the abridged version".
• Explore the Qin Dynasty
• Qin Shihuangdi- visit the tomb of the 1st Emperor of ancient China.. Discover interesting and seemingly unbelievable facts about the tomb and terra-cotta soldiers.
• Learn how the Han Dynasty reunited China after the fall of the Qin (Ch'in) dynasty
• Get wrapped up in Chinese Mummies
• Identify the Ancient Dynasties
• Examine Empires from the Past
• See the Terra Cotta Warriors of the Qin Dynasty and Postcards of the Terra Cotta Warriors
• The expansion of Buddhism into China during the Han Dynasty
• The problems of the Zhoe Dynasty
• 100 Celebrated Chinese Women.
  • The history of a nation is best told through the lives of its people. In 100 Celebrated Chinese Women , a glimpse of China's past can be seen through the experiences, often tragic and violent, of women who have come to represent different aspects of the society and era in which they lived. This project is a collaboration between Chinese artists and writers
• Celebrate the accomplishments of 100 Celebrated Chinese Women
• Takla Makan Mummies: Mysterious Mummies of China
  • Description: In the late 1980's, perfectly preserved 3000-year-old mummies began appearing in a remote Chinese desert. They had long reddish-blond hair, European features and didn't appear to be the ancestors of modern-day Chinese people. Archaeologists now think they may have been the citizens of an ancient civilization that existed at the crossroads between China and Europe. Explore this site to see these mummies and draw your own conclusions.
• History of Early China
  • Description: Learn more about Chinese history from the Qin period to the sixth century. Maps and artifacts illustrate the text.

• Ancient Chinese Technology:
  • ThinkQuest '98 A ThinkQuest '98 entry, this site explores many important technologies developed by the Ancient Chinese. The authors discuss scientific and technological contributions in the areas of agriculture, mathematics, engineering, physics, warfare, transportation as well as the historical and intellectual contexts of Chinese scientific knowledge.
• Development of Mathematics in Ancient China
  • Mathematics in Ancient China "Chinese mathematics,"... ...development of mathematics in ancient China.
• The Discovery of the Number "0"
• Chinese Counting Boards- abacus
• Late Shang Dynasty Vehicle :
  • Royal Ontario Museum The vehicles with two spoked wheels that appeared in Central Asia before 2000 BC represented a complex technology dependent on the skills needed for raising, training, harnessing, driving, and caring for domestic horses. These vehicles were drawn by two horses. A model called a chariot, was operated by drivers who stood. Another model, called a cart carried goods or seated passengers.

• General Information about World Religions- it's simple information, but clear
• Philosophy and Religion : China Teaching Workbook, Columbia University
  A selection of background teaching notes and student readings on Confucian Thought, Taoism and Legalism, The Origins of Buddhism, Buddhism in China and Muslims in China.
• Discover ancient Chinese spirituality
• Taoism, or the Way and Confucianism : AskAsia Educational Project
  Background readings on Chinese religion and philosophy from the Askasia curriculum materials online. This is a little difficult to read as it was written for older readers.
• Read about the life of Confucius and the development of Confucianism
• Philosophy and Religion in China : Paul Halsall, CUNY New York
  Article on major Chinese religions reproduced from Compton's Living Encyclopedia on America Online (August 1995). This one is also aimed at older readers.

• China's Major Religions : Inside China Today
  Religion in China is influenced by three major schools of thought: Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. While Confucianism is a major philosophy and Buddhism originated in India, Taoism is truly a Chinese religion. (more...)

• Allfaithpress web site, select "Confucianism" from the options to get more info.
• Consult with Confucius

• Taoism
  One-page simple summary from a larger site on Religions and Ethical Systems" from the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.
• World Wide Web Virtual Library -Taoism Information Page
• Tao of Healing
  An introduction to Taoism from the standpoint of traditional Chinese assumptions about health and healing. The site is maintained by Henry McCann, a student of Chinese Medicine at the New England School of Acupuncture in Watertown, Massachusetts, USA. Includes A Brief Introduction to Taoism and Chinese Medicine.
• Taoism Page
  A very simple, brief introduction to Taoism presented at a popular level, with links to relevant web sites. The information is supplied by Allfaiths Press from a server in California. You must select Taoism and go from there to get the information.
  

The Silk Road

 

• A Short History of the Silk Road 
  
• Silk Production in China 
  
• Geography of the Silk Road
  
• Introduction to the Silk Trade
  
• China: The Silk Road
  
• Area Map of Central Asia
  
• Map of the Silkroad
  
• Landscape of Turkumenistan (photographs)
  
• Essays about the Silk Road and its Legacy Today,
• The Silk Road :
  • Oliver Wild, Webmaster and Editor Text and images from a graduate student project in the UK.
• Asia Quest : Daily Web Features :
  • Classroom Connect From October 4 to November 5, 1999 a team of experts retraced Marco Polo's route along the Silk Road. (See Clickable Map of the Journey.) Share the adventure, meet the expedition team, and learn more about their travels. (Note: You must be a subscriber to access some of the resources on this site.)
• The Silk Road: A Mapping Activity :
  • China Dim Sum, Instructional Materials, Angier School, Newton, Massachusetts In this activity, students trace the route of merchants across the Silk Road using downloadable maps and reference materials available from this site.
• Read Oliver Wilde's history of "The Silk Road" "Silk Roads"
• Marco Polo Slideshow
  • Description: Here is a slideshow with photos and text describing Marco Polo's travels to China.

Teacher Support

• Mysteries of the Ancient East: China, Egypt, Rome: ThinkQuest '97 Overview of ancient civilizations by three middle school students from California. Topics include art, belief systems, fashion, food, games, history and techologies from China, Egypt and Rome.
• Ancient China: Virtual Ancient Civilizations Part of a larger project from Urbana Middle School, Illinois the projects on Ancient China include and Ancient China Timeline (including the Shang Dynasty) and posters on Chinese philosophies created by sixth grade students
• World Cultures Learning Modules: Ancient China : Richard Hooker, Washington State University
  As part of a series of lectures on World Cultures, here is a series of lectures and links to information on history of Ancient China. There is also a module on Ming Dynasty and The Ch'ing Dynasty from the same professor.
• Ancient China Scavenger Hunt (same as the one up in the "WebQuest" box at the top of the page)
• Make Chinese Chopsticks and a snack to use them with!
• Find more information on this Ancient China resource site
• Find the hidden words in the Ancient China Word Search
• Ancient China Crossword Puzzle
• China Teaching Workbook & Lots of Lesson Plans/UNIT (This is an AMAZING unit...)

Writing and Language

• Write Chinese characters
• Pronouncing the Chinese Language
• The Chinese Language: An Introduction
• What's in a Name?
• Chinese Calligraphy

FSUSD Social Science Site | FSUSD Main Page

updated on 8-01-2000

E-mail the webmaster: Mrs. La Mar