Chinese historiography

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/chinese-historiography

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What are oracle bone inscriptions and why are they important?Oracle bone inscriptions are ancient writings carved on animal bones. They are the earliest records of Chinese history, giving clues about early events and people.
2. Who wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals and what made it special?The Spring and Autumn Annals were written by Confucius. It was special because it told history in a story-like way and taught lessons about good behavior.

Annals: A historical record of events in chronological order, often year by year.
Textual Criticism: The process of evaluating historical texts to determine their authenticity and original form.
Historiographical Theory: The study of the philosophy and history of historical writing itself.
Bias: A prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.