Follow up to article on Google and China

Here are a few articles about the "break-up" between Google and China.

In China, Mixed Reaction To Google's Decision
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125048961

Google's China Move Could Yield Benefits
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125048965

Foreign Policy: Google And China's Goodbye
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125051712

Class and HW intstructions for Chinese Dynasty Intro

For this assignment:

1. Read and mark up as a group
2. Decide on 5 key or most important points as group.
3. Prepare a five minute instruction for the other groups,
4. Make a small handout.
5. For HW summarize reading into a single paragraph.
   
   Alpha Group - Shang and Zhou
   http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/China/Shang.html
   http://www.thenagain.info/WebChron/China/Zhou.html
   
   Bravo Group - Shang only
   http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=23&entryid=595893&searchtext=shang&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=1,3,4,5,6,8,
   
   
   Charlie Group - Zhou only
   http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=23&searchtext=shang&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=1%2c3%2c4%2c5%2c6%2c8%2c&entryid=595901&issublink=true&fromsearch=false
   
   
   Delta Group - Xia (Hsia)
   http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=23&searchtext=shang&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=1%2c3%2c4%2c5%2c6%2c8%2c&entryid=595898&issublink=true&fromsearch=false
   
   Echo Group - ancestor veneration
   http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=23&searchtext=shang&type=simple&option=all&searchsites=1%2c3%2c4%2c5%2c6%2c8%2c&entryid=583682&issublink=true&fromsearch=false

Chinese Writing and "Dragon Bones"

Use this link to read the story of "Dragon Bones" in China. When you have have finished the story take the challenge.

Link to story:
http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/writing/story/sto_set.html

The challenge will give an English word and an image. Using the up and down arrows you must choose the Chinese Character that matches with the English word and image. Once you have chosen the Chineses character click on the word "Choose" underneath the arrows. It will tell you if you are right or wrong.

Link to challenge:
http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/writing/challenge/cha_set.html

Activity: Indo-Aryan Belief Systems

Here are the links that are needed for the worksheet.

Translation from the Rigveda, Book 10
1. Hymn 129
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10129.htm

2. Hymn 130
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10130.htm

3. Hymn 131
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10131.htm

Instructions
1. Visit the Internet Sacred Texts Archive and read a translation from the Rigveda, Book 10, hymn 129 and hymn 130, which gives an account of creation. As you read the passages, approach the task as if you were a detective examining evidence and make notes guided by the following line of questioning:

• What does the text say about the state of the world before the act of creation?
• Who is given credit for creating the world and humans?
• What gods are named in the text?
• What could be the significance of the image of weaving?
• How does this account of creation compare with that given in other religious traditions?

2. Continue your investigation, this time reading Book 10, Hymn 131.

Paying close attention to the objects, animals, practices, and pleas, make a list of five inferences (the act of passing from one proposition, statement, or judgment considered as true to another whose truth is believed to follow from that of the former) you are able of draw about life for the Indo-Aryan people who composed the text.

(Note: kine is an archaic word for "cattle.")

"Indo-Aryan Belief Systems (Activity)." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 3 Feb. 2010. .

Hinduism Vocabulary List

The quiz will be Wednesday, Jan 27th

Vedas
Bhagavad Gita
Ascetic
Varnas
jatis
castes
Upanishads
Yoga
Brahman
Atman
Moksha
Kharma
Dharma
Bhakti
Darsan
Puja
Tirthas
Varanasi
Divali
Samskaras
Sanskrit

Questions for the Silk Road Reading

1. It took years for Silk Road travelers and merchants, like Zhang Qian and Marco Polo, to reach their destinations. What kinds of preparations would have been needed at that time for such a journey? What sorts of resources would need to be available along the way for the trade routes to function successfully?

2. In 1998, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma brought together scholars, musicians, and others to form a foundation known as the Silk Road Project. The purpose of the project is to share music and other performing arts from all the cultures represented by the Silk Road. Yo-Yo Ma has called the ancient Silk Road the "Internet of antiquity." Discuss what you think he means by that metaphor.

3. Suppose that the Han dynasty, the Tang dynasty, and the Mongol Empire had been more like the Ming dynasty, which promoted isolationism. How do you think history might have been different?

Here is a great resource for Agriculture and Early Farming

This is from a podcast called, "The Stuff You Missed in History Class"

If you follow the link you can listen to about a 15 minute piece about Argiculture and the benfits of farming in early Mesopotamia. It's good stuff for those who want more things to help them review for the midterm.

http://podcasts.howstuffworks.com/hsw/podcasts/symhc/2009-05-13-symhc-mesopotamia.mp3

The podcast can also be downloaded for free on iTunes. If you type in, The Stuff You Missed in History Class, into the iTunes search area it will come up. Then you can scroll down to "Mesopotamia: The first civilization". Either way it's good to check for an easy review.