I have produced a lesson series: A Bridge to Modern China, to prepare students for post-16 courses on the history of China in the twentieth century:
Week 1 - includes a whistle-stop tour of Chinese history and the origins of the imperial system in China. Students will learn about the themes, ideas and forces that shaped China by the 1800s.
Week 2 - covers six reasons for China's decline from the early to mid-19th century. Did China's decline originate in China or was it from the actions of foreign powers?
Week 3 - includes a quick revision of the causes of the First Opium War and includes a guide on how to take your source skills to the next level. The final task and enrichment ideas aim to spark student interest on the thorny issue of who was mostly to blame for the outbreak of the First Opium War.
Week 4 - includes a quick overview of the events of the First Opium War and the terms of the treaty of Nanjing. A 'Battle of the historians' task then follows. The enrichment ideas at the end aim to spark student interest in the debates between historians and their seminal works.
Week 5 - includes an overview of the causes of the Second Opium War and explores the reasons why it was such a disaster for China. It culminates in the terms of the Treaty of Tianjin. The enrichment ideas at the end aim to spark student interest in the debates between historians and the portrayal of the Opium Wars.
