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Explore the Ancient World Student Reseach Guide Guidelines
Research Tips

Unit 1
  • Chapter 1
  • Chapter 2
  • Chapter 3
  • Chapter 4

    • Unit 2
  • Chapter 5
  • Chapter 6
  • Chapter 7

    • Unit 3
  • Chapter 8
  • Chapter 9
  • Chapter 10

    • Unit 4
  • Chapter 11
  • Chapter 12
  • Chapter 13

    • Unit 5
  • Chapter 14
  • Chapter 15
  • Chapter 16
  • Chapter 16A

    • Unit 6
  • Chapter 17
  • Chapter 18
  • Chapter 19
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    Unit 4: Ancient China - Chapter 11: China's Bronze Age

    Key Words: Shang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty, ancient China, China's Bronze Age, Yellow River
    Fiction Books
    Ginsburg, Mirra. The Chinese Mirror. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1991. A mirror brought from China causes confusion within a rural Korean family. A good connection to the Bronze Age in Chinese history is made in this book. 32 pages. Fiction.

    Louie, Ai-Ling. Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China. New York: Putnam Publishing Group, 1996. This Chinese version of a Cinderella story is set during the Bronze Age of China. 32 pages. Fiction.

    Yep, Laurence. The Dragon Prince: A Chinese Beauty and the Beast Tale. New York: HarperTrophy, 1999. The youngest daughter of a poor farmer agrees to marry a terrifying dragon in order to save her father's life. 32 pages. Fiction.

    Nonfiction Books
    Fisher, Leonard Everett. The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient China. New York: Holiday House, 2003. Fisher gives a brief overview of some of the main gods and goddesses in Chinese mythology. 36 pages. Nonfiction.

    Peers, C.J. Ancient Chinese Armies: 1500-200 BC. Men-At-Arms Series, 218. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, 1990. This book discusses the appearance and strategy of ancient Chinese armies. 48 pages. Nonfiction.

    Shuter, Jane. Ancient Chinese Art. Chicago: Heinemann Library, 2001. Shuter explains how Chinese art was created from 1500 B.C. to A.D. 1279. The text covers various art forms including painting, bronze work, calligraphy, pottery, lacquer, jade carving, and architecture. 32 pages. Nonfiction.

    Zhang, Song Nan and Hao Yu Zhang. A Time of Golden Dragons. Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 2000. This picture book covers many different aspects of dragon lore of ancient China. The Zhangs also explain the significance of the dragon in modern Chinese art and culture. 24 pages. Nonfiction.

    Zhang, Song Nan. Five Heavenly Emperors: Chinese Myths of Creation. Plattsburgh, NY: Tundra Books, 1994. Zhang describes the five creative acts of the heavenly emperors who each represent one of the five Chinese elements: earth, fire, wood, gold, and water. 36 pages. Nonfiction.

    Web Sites
    http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.html
    Shang Dynasty. What does an animal bone have to do with writings from the Shang Dynasty? This site explains what the bones were used for and talks about how the Shang were discovered to be real people and not mythological, as first thought. Look at the map on the page to see how much territory the Shang controlled in China.

    http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/menu.html
    Ancient China—The British Museum. An excellent resource for many different aspects of ancient China, this site offers information, educational games, and stories to help you learn. Look at the maps showing the areas that various dynasties controlled, play a game where you try to make quality silk on a time schedule, and see how Chinese writing is different from English. "The Staff Room" is a wonderful area for teachers to explore, with lessons and worksheets provided to enhance the study of ancient China.

    http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/shzh/hd_shzh.htm
    Shang and Zhou Dynasties: The Bronze Age of China. View artifacts from the dynasties that you have been studying at this site sponsored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There are photographs of items made from bronze, jade, and other materials. Each picture can be enlarged so that you can study the amazing detail on each art object.

    http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/geo/yelriver.htm
    Yellow River. The Yellow River has been both a blessing and a curse to the people of China. Go here to see photographs of the river and read several interesting facts about this waterway. Consider the questions that the site asks, and discuss them in class if there is time.

    http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/imperial.icon
    CNN In-Depth Specials: Visions of China. Find out what the Chinese have invented over the centuries, including the crossbow. Discover how the borders of China have changed in time by reading about the dynasties that followed the Shang Dynasty. Also, look at and read about intriguing archaeological finds, such as a two-sided mask made out of bronze.

    http://www.newton.mec.edu/Angier/DimSum/Chinese%20Folktales.html
    China: Dim Sum-Folktales. Read one or more of the six folk and fairy tales available on this site and think about what they are trying to teach about life. If you have time, try to create your own folk or fairy tale using the worksheet provided in the "Follow Up" section.

    http://www.logoi.com/notes/chinese_origins.html
    Origins of Chinese Writing. Where did Chinese writing begin? Does the Chinese language have an alphabet like English does? What is a pictograph? The answers to these questions are revealed on this site. Start by reading about what materials the ancient Chinese would write on. Hint: it's not paper! Then scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the articles listed to learn more about this language of many symbols.