Ferdinand Verbiest

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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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/ferdinand-verbiest

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. When was Ferdinand Verbiest born?October 9, 1623
2. Where was Ferdinand Verbiest born?Pittem, County of Flanders (present-day Belgium)
3. What is the chinese name?Nan Huairen (南懷仁)
4. What is the career?Jesuit missionary, mathematician, astronomer, cartographer, translator, diplomat, and inventor
5. Who was Ferdinand Verbiest?Ferdinand Verbiest was a Flemish Jesuit missionary, mathematician, and inventor who traveled to China in the 1600s.
6. What did he do in China?He helped improve the Chinese calendar, rebuilt the Beijing Ancient Observatory, and taught the Kangxi Emperor astronomy and other subjects.

Jesuit Missionary: A member of the Society of Jesus dedicated to spreading Catholicism and education globally.
Qing Dynasty: The imperial dynasty ruling China from 1644 to 1912, known for its vast territory and cultural achievements.
Calendrics: The science and practice of calculating and constructing calendars.
Cartography: The science or practice of drawing maps.