Ch. 2
Primary Source Analysis: The Rise of the Shi
Confucius and Mencius on talent versus inherited status. Work individually (~10 minutes), then export your answers as a TXT file.
Open WorksheetRichland Community College
History of China
HIST 270 — A Survey from the Bronze Age to the Modern Era
Course Syllabus
Policies, grading breakdown, required materials, and academic integrity.
Lecture Calendar
Fall 2026 — the full meeting-by-meeting lecture schedule with readings and due dates.
Lecture Slide Decks
Protected Reveal.js presentations for each chapter. Cloudflare sign-in required.
Historian's Workshop
Primary-source worksheets, the Chapter 2 lecture, and the companion video.
Chapter Study Guides
Student-facing review materials for each unit — key terms, timelines, and discussion questions.
The Historian's Workshop
Primary-source work, lecture, and video for Chapter 2Lecture
When Birth Was No Longer Enough
The 10–15 minute Reveal lecture on the rise of the shi — portable expertise in a world at war.
Open Reveal DeckCloudflare sign-in required
Video
The Rise of the Shi
Short-form companion video: Talent in a World at War — how ability began to compete with inherited status.
Watch on YouTubeChapter Study Guides
Select a chapter to open its study guide
Ancient China
Chapter 1
China in the Bronze Age
Shang & Zhou • c. 1500–771 BCE
✦ Available
Chapter 2
Philosophers & Warring States
770–256 BCE
✦ Available
Chapter 3
The Bureaucratic Empire
Qin & Han • 256 BCE–200 CE
✦ Available
Division & Reunion
Chapter 4
Political Division in China
200–580 CE
✦ Available
Chapter 5
The Cosmopolitan Empires of Sui & Tang
581–960 CE
✦ Available
Imperial High Tide
Chapter 8
China Among Equals
Song, Liao, Xia & Jin • 907–1279
✦ Available
Chapter 12
China Under Mongol Rule
1215–1368
✦ Available
Chapter 14
The Ming Empire
1368–1644
✦ Available
Late Imperial
Chapter 16
The Creation of the Manchu Empire
1600–1800
✦ Available
Chapter 18
China in Decline
Qing Dynasty • 1800–1900
✦ Available
Modern China
Chapter 24
Remaking China
Republic & Reform • 1912–1927
✦ Available
Chapter 25
War & Revolution
1927–1949
✦ Available
Chapter 27
China Under Mao
People's Republic • 1949–1976
✦ Available