Analyze ancient Chinese civilizations of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE) and Western Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046-771 BCE) — including Shang oracle-bone divination, bronze-vessel ritual practice, the Zhou Mandate of Heaven (Tianming), and the foundational teachings of Confucius (551-479 BCE) and Laozi (6th-4th century BCE) — per Edward L. Shaughnessy and David N. Keightley scholarly translations
Exercise Difficulty 3 ~6 min hist.g6.f.ex_18

Source Analysis

MG-7 Interactive Physical / non-image

Ancient-World 6-Question Source Card — 8.5x11 laminated tool with 6 questions: (1) WHO made this source and WHEN? (sourcing); (2) WHAT was happening in this civilization at the time? (contextualization); (3) DOES this source agree or disagree with other sources from the same civilization or other civilizations? (corroboration); (4) WHAT does this source actually SAY (close reading); (5) WHO are the LIVING DESCENDANTS of this civilization today, and what do they say about this source? (NMAI-inspired 5th move); (6) WHO TRANSLATED this source from its ancient language? WHOSE INTERPRETATION are we reading? WHAT IS LIKELY MISSING from the source-record entirely (silences)? (World History Association-inspired 6th move). Scaffolded short-form for Lessons 3-7; full form for Lessons 11-21. Style: educator-tool, durable laminated card.

Prompt

Apply MG-7 Source Card to a Shang oracle bone (c. 1200 BCE, Anyang excavations, Keightley 1978). Selected inscription: 'Crack making on jiazi day; Que divined: It will not rain.' Answer 4 questions: WHO/WHEN, CONTEXT, CLOSE READ, LIVING DESCENDANTS.

How it's presented
mode text
Answer criteria
type rubric scored 4 question source card
rubric
3 stars all 4 answered. 2 stars 3. 1 star 2. 0 <2.
Hints
  1. WHO: Shang diviner-priests c. 1200 BCE.
  2. Context: Late Shang Dynasty at Anyang.
  3. Living descendants: modern Chinese; Chinese characters trace lineage to oracle-bone script.
Misconceptions to watch
  • Forgetting Chinese script continuity from oracle bones to modern characters
  • Treating Shang as 'primitive'
Used in lessons