Unit 4 Imperial China and Medieval Japan
Unit 4 introduces students to Medieval Asia, particularly
China and Japan. Similar to previous units, Unit 4 starts out with students
becoming familiar with the geography of China. At this point, students are
already familiar with thinking about how the physical environment would change
society, culture, economics, etc. Therefore, for China, allow students to
predict some results of the challenges, as well as predicting solutions to
these natural barriers. Medieval China begins with several dynastic periods in
Chinese history, each with accomplishments and legacies. As students study the
characteristics of these periods in Chinese history, it will push their
abilities to contextualize these events compared with their prior knowledge of
Europe and Africa. As students study each Chinese Dynasty, they will also be
building the skills of comparing and contrasting relationships in their
informative writing. To conclude Medieval China, students study the wondrous
voyages of Zheng He through primary and secondary sources, recalling on their
ability to analyze through the lens of the time period. Next, students move to
Medieval Japan. Once again, students begin as geographers, analyzing the
effects of a country made up of a series of islands on its society. The main
focus while studying Japan will be the development and effects of their feudal
system. By this point in the unit, they will already be familiar with compare
and contrast relationships and will apply these skills to analyzing the
similarities and differences between Europe and Japan’s feudal system. To be
able to truly understand the development of Japan’s feudal system, students
will have to recall prior knowledge from Unit 2. The unit will conclude with
students practicing their ability to connect larger patterns over time in their
analysis of samurai and knights!
Unit 4 Summative: January 22nd
