Would you believe there is not even one high school homeschool history class dedicated to Chinese history? Well, at least there isn’t one that I could find in my extensive research. Maybe someone can prove me wrong! Although a brief overview of Chinese history is covered in world history classes, I found only one online homeschool class that was dedicated to Asian history (and it was combined with African history).

Perhaps a focused study of Chinese history is too small of a niche in the homeschool community, but my rising freshman daughter expressed great interest in the subject. So, what follows is the course curriculum I developed after many hours of research. The course uses an unconventional main text, as the China-only history texts I found were college level and … well … really dry. Our main text reads like a narrated story and is absolutely captivating for a history-lover like me. It is a fantastic summary and hits all of the important ideas, though it is obviously not extremely detailed given the breadth that thousands of years of history provides. I have included plenty of extra resources, with the goal to provide a broad study of China’s past and how its grand story is reflected in its present. Combined with her Chinese Literature & Composition class, I am so excited about this year!

Course Description: In this sweeping high school study of Chinese history, a general overview of the Middle Kingdom’s extensive past and rich culture is surveyed. Students begin by journeying through the archeological evidence that supports the existence of prehistoric towns, then weave their way through the expansive history and culture of imperial China to create a mental map of the major dynasties, and finish their studies by exploring the events and political climate of modern times. Critical analyses of events as well as comparisons to other civilizations and time periods are included. Student also study Pinyin pronunciations, calligraphy and art, the history of tea, major Chinese contributions to the world, basic philosophical tenets (covered in-depth in Chinese Literature & Composition), and historical and modern geography.

Resources include (but are certainly not limited to) a wide variety of readings, internet sources, and video documentaries:

• The Story of China, written by Michael Wood (main text)
• Imperial China (supplemental history resource for research and writing assignments)
• The Story of China, PBS documentary directed and narrated by Michael Wood
• Primary sources from Chinese Civilization, A Sourcebook, written by Patricia Buckley Ebrey
• Assigned readings from Mao’s Little Red Book
• Readings and sources from Asia for Educators website
• Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors documentary on Netflix
• Art studies from Illustrated Guide to 50 Masterpieces of Chinese Paintings
• The Art of China, PBS documentary directed and narrated by Michael Wood
• Various reading assignments from China’s Book of Martyrs
• Various Khan Academy videos and articles

Hopeful additional reading if time allows:

• Confucius Never Said, written by Helen Raleigh
• Born Red: A Chronicle of the Cultural Revolution, written by Gao Yuan

Assessments are based on reading question answers, creative writing opportunities utilizing a range of different forms, projects, student reflections, discussions, tests and quizzes, and four major essays due throughout the year (essay topic lists are provided from which the student chooses, but the student may request permission to write on associated topics of interest to them).

This is a 36-week honors-level class hosted on Canvas that is heavy in reading, writing, and self-study. Students should expect to spend 4-6 hours weekly on the reading material and assignments.

Chinese History Weekly Overview

Week	Topic
1	Introduction - Pinyin pronunciations, understanding "dynasty"
2	Chinese provinces & capital cities, Prehistory (Yangshao, Shimao, Taosi)
3	Xia and Shang Dynasties, the Bronze Age, Oracle Bones
4	Shang Dynasty and the Battle of Muye, Zhou Dynasty
5	Zhou Dynasty, Mandate of Heaven, Confucius, Daoism, and the Hundred Schools of Thought
6	Warring States, Qin Dynasty and the First Emperor, Terracotta Soldiers
7	Han Dynasty, Legalism, Sima Qian
8	The Silk Road, Three Kingdoms, 16 Kingdoms, Northern/Southern Dynasties
9	Essay writing
10	Tang Dynasty, Buddhism
11	Tang Dynasty, History of Tea, Empress Wu Zetian
12	Tang Dynasty, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Nestorian Christianity and the First Christian Martyrs, Chinese Calligraphy
13	Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms
14	Song Dynasty & Renaissance, Qingming Scroll
15	Northern Song
16	Southern Song
17	Essay writing
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36