The Gifts of China
Essential Question
What are the intellectual contributions of the Chinese?
The Gifts of China
We have all read about "our debt to ancient Greece and Rome" and about "our heritage from Europe." We need to think also about our gifts from the cultures and peoples of Asia. Today we will examine some of the things given by China to the Western world.
The story of China's gifts to the West goes back hundreds and hundreds of years. When Columbus came to America, China had already been exchanging goods with Europe for centuries. Learning these discoveries allows us to better appreciate the importance of the Chinese to our ways of living in the United States.
Today we will focus on: Paper, printing, tea, gunpowder, & the compass
Activity 1: The Gifts of China Stations
Read the following stations and classify each of the gifts of China and their impact on the world in a thinking map: tea, paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder. Complete this assignment digitally or on paper. It will be collected in your portfolio.
Discussion Questions
What impact did the discovery of tea have on the world?
What impact did the discovery of paper have on the world?
What impact did the discovery of printing have on the world?
What impact did the discovery of gunpowder have on the world?
What impact did the discovery of the compass have on the world?
Activity 2: The Gifts of China Evaluation
List tea, paper, printing, compass, and gunpowder from most important discovery to least important discovery. Then write at least 2 paragraphs explaining your ranking. You must use evidence to support your claim.