A Day in the Fields rice terraces in modern-day china A peasant girl helps her mother fill a stone pot with vegetables She places it over the fire in their hut The vegetables will cook while they work in the fields
harvesting rice They meet the girl’s father in the paddy Water floods between the rows of rice The girl bends to pull weeds Her stomach growls as she works But she knows there will be a delicious meal waiting at home It will be time to eat after a day of farming in ancient China
Who Were the Ancient Chinese Temple of White Horse in Henan Provence China Ancient China was a civilization in eastern Asia that lasted more than 1,800 years Its history is divided into dynasties Ancient China began with the Shang dynasty around 1600 BCE The Han dynasty’s fall in 220 CE brought its end Ancient China called itself Zhongguo or Middle Empire It reached its peak of culture and power during the Han dynasty Its borders reached present-day Vietnam North Korea and Central Asia At its height ancient China had around 60 million people
Ancient China’s Dynasties Shang 1600 to 1046 BCE known for creation of bronze items such as weapons early Chinese writing zhou 1046 to 256 BCE qin 221 to 207 BCE known for development of Confucianism and Taoism Mandate of Heaven iron plows pulled by oxen known for unification of China beginning of the Great Wall terra-cotta army Shihuangdi orders books burned han 206 BCE to 220 CE known for golden age of culture and literature imperial academy created to prepare people for government jobs paper kites and sundials Silk Road trading route
