Discovering Our Past: Ancient Civilizations

“Early China”

Introduction
In this chapter you have learned about China's first civilizations and the dynasties that ruled them. China was often threatened by its neighbors to the north. Chinese rulers constructed the Great Wall of China to protect their country from invaders. In this activity, you'll learn more about this man-made barrier. Visit the Web site The Great Wall of China to take video tours of the Great Wall.

Destination Title: The Great Wall of China

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
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Directions
Begin at The Great Wall of China.

• Click on entries in the left column that highlight different sections of the Great Wall. On each page, view a video of a particular section by clicking on the start button.
• After you view each video, be sure to explore the content below and next to the videoscreen, taking notes as you read.

1			How did the Great Wall protect the Chinese?
2			What were the purposes of the watchtowers and beacon towers along the Great Wall?
3			The invention of this item reduced the effectiveness of the Great Wall. Why is this so?
4			What materials were used to build the Great Wall?
5			You're on vacation in China, and you decide to visit the Great Wall. Are you surprised by the commercial presence at the Great Wall? Create a Venn diagram to outline the pros and cons of the extreme popularity of such a site.