Class 11 English Unit 4: Qin Dynasty by Gabriel Peralta

 

Unit 4: Qin Dynasty by Gabriel Peralta

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SKS4RTCilU 

Reflection of the text

Qin is also spelled as ‘Kin’ or ‘Chin’ dynasty that established the first great Chinese empire, which lasted from 221-206 BCE, but the name China is derived from the established approximate boundaries. And basic administration systems were to follow for the next two millennia. The dynasty originated from the state of Qin, one of the feudal states into which China was divided between 771 and 221 BCE.

So, between the middle of the third and the end of the second century BCE, the rulers of the king began to centralize power, creating rigid systems and laws that were applicable throughout the country. They have divided the state into a series of commanders and rulers by official appointment by the central government. Under those changes, Qin slowly began to conquer its surrounding states, emerging as a major power in China. Finally, in 246 BCE, the boy king Ying Zheng came to the throne. He, together with his minister Li Siu completed the Qin conquest and in 221 BCE created the Qin empire. 

Ying Zheng proclaimed himself with the name of Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of Qin. To rule the vast territory, the Qin instituted a rigid authoritarian government. They have divided the state into a series of commanders and rulers by official appointment by the central government. Under those changes, Qin slowly began to conquer its surrounding states, emerging as a major power in China. Finally, in 246 BCE, the boy king Ying Zheng came to the throne. He, together with his minister Li Siu completed the Qin conquest and in 221 BCE created the Qin empire.

Ying Zheng proclaimed himself with the name of Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of Qin. To rule the vast territory, the Qin instituted a rigid authoritarian government.

Positive Aspects

They have standardized the writing system. They have also standardized the measurement of weight and money. They extended and connected the Great Wall of China. They lessened the territories of China. They made equal laws for the rich and the poor. Roads were built for faster communication and the movement of armies. Strict laws were put in place, and corrupt officials were sentenced to death.

Negative Aspects

They burnt books and buried scholars alive if they disagreed with the authority. They had severe punishment for crimes. They buried people alive so that there would be no one of the people smarter than him.

Feudalism

Feudalism was the major social and political order in Medieval Europe. It developed as power passed from the King to local lords.

Positive Aspects

It is a self-sufficient system of governing. It provides a system of co-existence. It allows for a simplistic chain of command. Land management was incredibly easy. It protects the community from violence. This system helped people develop qualities like loyalty, bravery, generosity, and humility.

Negative Aspects

It brings the gap between the poor and the rich, or the class division. Although it provides lessons in the local area, it didn’t have the strength to lessons large regions and could not afford big projects. It didn’t treat people equally or let them move up in society. Because there was no strong central government to apply (implement) the law and order, it was easy to use force, violence, and lies to get one’s way. Most peasants were serfs. They were not allowed to leave their lord’s land. They were restricted in movement and even daily activities without permission.  ***

Ways with words (page 36)

A.   Match the words with their meanings.(Answers only)

a.      brevity                  : lasting only for a short time

b.     conquest              : victory over a place or people by use of military force

c.      resemblance        : the state of being alike

d.     barbarian             : a member of an uncivilized group of people or culture

e.      ally                        : one state united to another by a treaty or a league for a                                            military purpose

f.       nobility                  : state of being noble in character, quality, or rank

g.     ruthlessness         : character of having no pity or compassion

h.      decimation  :         the killing or destruction of a large number of population

a.      harsh                     : cruel

b.     elixir                      : a liquid that is believed to cure all ills

B.    Find the following words in the text and use them in sentences of your own.

invasion                disregard                         paramount             populace

revolt                    assassination                   serfdom

a.      The soldiers prepared for the invasion of the enemy’s territory.

b.     He showed complete disregard for the traffic rules.

c.      Safety is paramount when working on a construction site.

d.     The mayor’s speech was well-received by the local populace.

e.      The farmers planned a revolt against the unfair taxes.

f.       The assassination of the leader shocked the entire nation.

g.     In medieval times, serfdom kept poor farmers tied to the land.

 

C.    Study the following homographs.

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpSbieB3grc

Homographs are words with different pronunciations and different meanings but the same spelling. However, the words here have a change in the word stress, often causing changes in the vowel sounds.

a.      address (noun): the location of a house)

b.     adDRESS (verb) to speak to a group of people)

c.      DEcrease (n.): reduction in the amount of something)

d.     deCREASE (v.): to become smaller in amount)

e.      PREsent (n.): a gift)

f.       preSENT (v.): to give something formally)

g.     PROtest (n.): objection to something by an organised group of people) proTEST (v.): to express an objection)

h.     CONtest (n.): a game or event of completion)

i.       conTEST (v.): to challenge or dispute)

j.       RECord (n): a written account of information)

k.     reCORD (v.): to keep or store information for future use.

D.    Consult a dictionary and prepare a list of ten homographs. (page 35)

a.      Bass – i. type of fish                 ii. Low or deep voice

b.     Bat – i. sport equipment            ii. An animal

c.      Down – i. lower place               ii. After sunset

d.     Fine – i. good quality                ii. A levy (charge)

e.      Minute – i. tiny                         ii. Unit of time

f.       Row – i. line                             ii. Argument

g.     Wound – i. past tense of wind   ii. To injure

h.     Bank – i. side of river               ii. Financial institution

i.       Wave – i. move hands               ii. Seawater coming to shore

j.       Can – i. auxiliary verb              ii. Container

E.    Read the limerick; the stressed words are in uppercase.

I KNEW a MAN whose NAME was SHAW.

He ATE a ROCK and BROKE his JAW.

WHAT do you THINK?

He SAID, with a WINK.

PerHAPS it’s BAD to EAT them RAW.

A limerick is a funny rhyming verse of five lines with the rhyme pattern aabba. Remember, limericks emphasize English sentence stress. 

 

Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lixkouTl8P8

 

F.     Here is a very old limerick taken from a book, ‘A Book of Nonsense’ by Edward Lear. Practise it with the help of your teacher and find the stressed words.

a.      There once was a fly on the wall.

b.     I wondered ‘Why didn’t it fall?

c.      Were its feet stuck?

d.     Or was it just luck?

e.      Or does gravity miss so small? (Caps are stressed words)

ü There ONCE was a FLY on the WALL.

ü I WONdered “why DIDn’t it FALL?”

ü WERE it’s feet STUCK?

ü Or WAS it just LUCK?

ü Or does GRAvity MISS things so SMALL?

Comprehension (page 37)

A.   Complete the table with the correct information from the text.

Qin Dynasty Period	221-206 BCE
Zhou Dynasty Period	1046-256 BCE
Warring States Period	426-221 BCE
Unification of China by the Qin	221 BCE
First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty	Shi Huang
Death of Shi Huangdi	210 BCE
Liu Bang Period	247 BCE- 195 BCE

B.    Answer these questions. Answers only (page 38)

a.      The Zhou Age is called a feudal age because the Zhou government bore a strong resemblance to some of the forms of feudalism in medieval Europe.

b.     The Qin is advantageous in terms of location because the territory of the Qin State in modern Shaanxi Province is well guarded against the east by mountains and gorges and has easy access to the North China plain through the Yellow River passes.

c.      The location of the state, the size of the army, and their expert use of the chariot contributed to the success in warfare as described in the text.

d.     The Qin invited the foreign advisor, Shang Yang, to suggest to them the idea of state policy.

e.      The key features of the Qin political system were fear and control. 

f.       Those who contributed the most to the state were highly rewarded, while those whose lives were considered of no consequence were sent to work as slaves on Shi Huangdi’s building projects, such as the Great Wall of China, the Grand Canal during the Qin Period.

g.     Shi Huangdi stopped educating ordinary people because he believed that uneducated people were easier to control and could be used for any objectives.

h.     The Qin achieved the efficacy and strength of the state, a superior army, a disciplined bureaucracy, an obedient populace, and the unquestioned authority of a strong central government through legalism in practice.

i.       Shi Huangdi never slept in the same room for two consecutive nights because he had a constant fear of being killed by others.

j.       The everlasting marks of the Qin Dynasty are the standard bureaucratic government, legalistic policies, wonderful artworks, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, the Great Wall of China, and the Grand Canal, etc. 

***

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