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//**Mrs. Celestin's 3rd Period History**// Class
=Welcome to Your Wiki! Welcome to our 6th grade classroom at SWMS.|| || Mrs. Celestin on the First Day of School!=

 It is exciting for me to be introducing technology to my classes and working with wikis. Hopefully, we can strive to make this a positive experience for all of us.

Below are the instructions for your assignment. As always, be sure to check your work. Remember to keep your passwords safe and do not share them with anyone else.

Have fun!

Following are the instructions for working on your wiki:


 * 1) Go to the discussion question below and leave your own answer.
 * 2) Remember that I can identify who wrote what. Be careful with your responses and make sure that they are appropriate for school.

March 19, 2010

VISIT THE GREECE PAGE

​ Thursday, April 8, 2010 Ancient China



We are going to be studying Ancient China's Qin and Han Dynasties in Chapter 7, Section 3 pages 240-248 These two rulers were very different as you will learn.

In this section, you will learn about the Great Wall of China and trading in Ancient China along the Silk Road

Spend at least 5 minutes exploring the following two links which are not only educational, but you will find interesting as well. Please be sure to click on all of the available information to get as much information out of the links as possible. ​

​ 1.​ This link will take you to an interactive Silk Road which you can explore. to access the Interactive Silk Road - click here

2. This is an interesting site, be sure to have your headphones on to listen to the music. -Read Silk Road Fables -Read how to make paper -Listen to the music Do not access any of the other information while you are supposed to be learning about the Silk Road!

Play Chinese Music from the Silk Road. This is interactive - you can turn musical instruments on and off. []

3. This 3rd link will actually let you explore, while traveling along the Silk Road. I want each of you to become an actual traveler, with a purpose for being on the Silk Road. You will only travel to one destination per day and access all of the information on that page. Then you will fill out your journal. Keep a journal, detailing what you did, why, what you learned and be sure to label your journal with each location and the date. How long where you at this specific location and what was your purpose for being there? Where are you traveling to next - and why? What is your purpose?

You will enjoy traveling the Silk Road and reading all of the information at each destination. 1. Be sure to watch silk being spun. 2. Listen to instruments. 3. See how paper was made All this and more at the following link. Enjoy! []

My journey on the Silk Road Thursday, April 8, 2010

Be sure to label each date in your travel journal and include the destination.

Have a great trip!!!!!!!!! Mrs. Celestin

April 13, 2010

REMINDER - TRAVEL JOURNALS ARE DUE FRIDAY!!!!!!!

Be sure that you are traveling to at least one destination per day and writing in your travel journal about your experiences.

FYI - more information: The Silk Road was not actually a road. It was not paved. It was not even a single route. The Silk Road was a name given to any route that led across China to Rome. It was a 4000-mile trip. At one end was China. At the other end was Rome. Each had something the other wanted. Rome had gold and silver and precious gems. China had silk and spices and ivory. Ideas also traveled along the Silk Road, ideas that affected everyone. The Romans were not surprised to find another civilization hidden over the mountains. They had been looking for “the Silk People” for a long time. They discovered pieces of silk from the people they conquered. Silk quickly became popular in Rome. But the Romans did not know who was making this wonderful material. The people they conquered did not know who was making silk either. They simply traded for it. The Romans sent out people to find the makers, but they never did. Most never returned. When the Eagle (sign of Rome) finally met the Dragon (sign of China), you can imagine how excited they were. The rewards were great, but the dangers were many. It was incredibly dangerous to travel along the Silk Road. You faced desolate white-hot sand dunes in the desert, forbidding mountains, brutal winds, and poisonous snakes. There was one nice section, called the Gansu Corridor, a relatively fertile strip that ran along the base of one of the mountains. But, to reach this strip, you had to cross the desert or the mountains. And of course, there were always bandits and pirates. Very few traders made the whole trip. They worked in relays. Each trader would go a certain distance, exchange their goods for other goods, and hopefully return. The next would move along the road, trade, and hopefully return. There were three main routes, and all were dangerous. The Silk Road took caravans to the farthest extent of the Han Empire. Sections of the Great Wall were built along the northern side of the Gansu Corridor to try and prevent bandits from the north from harming the trade. Over the centuries, the Silk Road developed a civilization of its own. Where possible, the Silk Road became lined with huge temples and booming cities. But there were still vast stretches of [|deserts and mountains] to cross, with no city or water in sight. It was never easy to travel the Silk Road. Click below to watch a video of the Silk Road.
 * Northern Route – Westward to Black Sea
 * Central Route – Westward to Persia, Mediterranean Sea, Rome
 * Southern Route – Westward to Iran, India

media type="file" key="7249.flv" width="432" height="324"

The Qin Dynasty Emperor Qin Shihuangdi c. 259-210 B.C. was a powerful ruler he made changes to China's government that would last 2,000 years. His rule was based on legalism. He had everyone who opposed him punished or killed. Books opposing his views were publicly burned.

He made the government stronger than ever and appointed government officials called censors to make sure government officials did their jobs. He also unified China.

Emperor Qin created one type of currency to be used throughout the empire. He also made laws and taxes uniform throughout the country and standardized weights and measurements. He ordered the building of roads and a great canal which he used to ship supplies to his troops in far-off territories.

Throughout China the emperor had his achievements inscribed on stone tablets.

He had many accomplishments - BUT - many people disliked him because of his harsh laws and punishments. They were unhappy that he spend large amounts of money to build palaces and a gigantic tomb for himself. He had an entire lifelike army over 6,000 soldiers and horses built of clay and placed in the tomb.

The aristocrats were angry because he reduced their powers. Scholars hated him for burning their writings. Farmers hated him for forcing him to build roads and the Great Wall.

Four years after his death in 210 B.C. the people overthrew his dynasty. Civil war followed and a new dynasty arose.

Northern China was bordered by the Gobi Desert where a nomadic people lived and roamed. They were called the Xiongnu and they were masters at fighting on horseback and often attacked Chinese farms and villages. Several Chinese rulers in the north built walls to keep out the Xiongnu. Qin forced farmers to leave their fields and work on connecting and strengthening the walls. The result was the Great Wall of China. It was built with stone, sand and piled rubble. However, this wall is not the wall we know today. It was built 1,500 years later.

The Great Wall of China Picture []

Great Wall Pictures

Watch these unbelievable videos: media type="file" key="Danny Way.flv" width="360" height="270" media type="file" key="China the Great Wall.flv" width="360" height="270"

Copy and paste the following questions on your page. Label it Ancient China questions and answer them on your page. Be sure to save your work!!!!

The Han Dynasty

In 202 B.C. Liu Bang founded the Han Dynasty. He was once a peasant that became a miliary leader and threw our the harsh policies of the Qin Dynasty. He continued to use censors and divided the empire into provinces and counties.

The Han reached its peak under the leadeship of Han Wudi which means the Martial Emperor of Han. He wanted talented people to fill government posts and implemented long, difficult tests to qualify for the openings. In time, these tests became known as Civil Service tests and this system for choosing government officials lasted for 2,000 years.

This system was supposed to allow anyone with the right skills to get a job with the government - but it favored the rich because they were the only ones able to afford to educate their sons for the difficult exams. Students began studying for the Civil Service test at age 7 and only 1 in 5 passed the exam. Those who failed taught school, took jobs as assistants to officials or were supported by their families.

An Era of Inventions New inventions during the Han Dynasty helped Chinese workers produce more than ever.

Millers used newly invented waterwheels to grind more grain.

(Miners used new iron drill bits to mine more what?)

Ironworkers invented steel.

(Paper was used by whom?) (For what?)

Doctors discovered that certain foods prevented disease. They used herbs to cure illnesses and eased pain by sticking thin needles into patient's skin. (What is this treatment called?)

The Chinese also invented the rudder which was a new way to move the sails of ships. (Why was this important?)

ANCIENT ROME

Rome Slideshow []

The ancient Romans loved to hear the story of Romulus and Remus. In their eyes, this story explained why Rome had the right to rule. According to the legend, Romulus and Remus justified their right to rule because their mother was a princess and their father was the war god Mars.

//**The legend of Romulus and Remus .....**// Rhea was married to Mars, the Roman god of war. Rhea had twin sons. She loved her boys, but there were plots afoot by other gods and goddesses to harm her father, herself, her husband, and her children. To protect the boys, she set them adrift on the river, hoping someone would find them. Who would not love such beautiful boys? Sure enough, first they were found by a she-wolf who fed them. Then a shepherd and his wife adopted the boys. As the twins grew older, they decided they did not want to take care of sheep. They wanted to be kings. They decided to build a city on the shores of the Tiber. They both wanted to be the only king. They quarreled. In a fit of rage, Romulus picked up a rock, killed his brother, and made himself king. That’s how Rome started.