Worksheets and No Prep Teaching Resources
Worksheets and No Prep Teaching Resources
Reading Comprehension Worksheets
Ancient China
Qing - China's Last Dynasty

Ancient China
Ancient China


Qing - China's Last Dynasty
Print Qing - China's Last Dynasty Reading Comprehension


Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 8 to 12
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   9.26

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    anti-Manchu, consolidation, impervious, institutional, quashed, indemnity, disloyal, regent, conquest, assimilate, uprising, flat-out, insurgent, depose, unreasonable, avail
     content words:    Kublai Khan, Zhu Yuanzhang, His Ming, Its Qing, Qing Emperors, First Opium War, Hong Kong, Taiping Rebellion, Emperor Xiangfeng, Emperor Tongzhi


Qing - China's Last Dynasty
By Vickie Chao
  

1     Looking back in history, there were only two times that a foreign ethnic tribe ruled the whole of China. The first was the Mongols, whose leader Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty in 1271 A.D. Kublai Khan and his successors' oppressive, authoritarian governing style didn't sit well with the Chinese, triggering numerous bouts of civil unrest. In 1368 A.D., Zhu Yuanzhang (a Chinese) orchestrated a revolution and toppled the Mongols. His Ming dynasty fell into turmoil in 1644 A.D., giving the Manchu, a nomadic tribe living in the northeast of present-day China, an opportunity to step up their effort of conquest. The Manchu (plural: Manchus or Manchu) succeeded and became the second foreign ethnic tribe to rule the whole of China. Its Qing dynasty (1644 A.D. - 1911 A.D.) also happens to be China's last dynasty.
 
2     As foreign rulers, the Manchus appreciated and embraced the Chinese culture. Their willingness to assimilate was a sharp contrast from the Mongols' flat-out refusal to integrate. But despite their numerous efforts in consolidation, the Manchus remained skeptical toward the Chinese. As a show of asserting authority, they forced all Chinese men to adopt the Manchus' traditional hairstyle. They mandated them to shave the front of their heads and braid the hair in the back into long queues. Any man who dared to resist was considered disloyal and would have his head cut off!
 
3     Though the Qing Emperors were autocrats, they carried out many popular reforms to stabilize the society and to stimulate the economy. The three earlier ones (Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong) in particular were credited with creating a time of peace and prosperity for China. They sent troops to quash the neighboring states and laid the foundation for modern China's territorial boundaries. Altogether, the three Emperors reigned 133 years, from 1662 A.D. to 1795 A.D.

Paragraphs 4 to 8:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable



Weekly Reading Books

          Create Weekly Reading Books

Prepare for an entire week at once!


Feedback on Qing - China's Last Dynasty
Leave your feedback on Qing - China's Last Dynasty   (use this link if you found an error in the story)



Ancient China
             Ancient China


More Lessons
             High School Reading Comprehensions and High School Reading Lessons


Social Studies
             Social Studies


    United States History and Theme Units  
 
    American Government  
 
    Ancient America  
 
    Ancient China  
 
    Ancient Egypt  
 
    Ancient Greece  
 
    Ancient India  
 
    Ancient Mesopotamia  
 
    Ancient Rome  
 
    Biographies  
 
    Canadian Theme Unit  
 
    Country Theme Units  
 
    Crime and Terrorism  
 
    Economics  
 
    European History: 1600s-1800s  
 
 
    Explorers  
 
    Famous Educators  
 
    Geography  
 
    Grades 2-3 Social Studies Wendy's World Series  
 
    History of Books and Writing  
 
    History of Mathematics  
 
    How Can I Help?  
 
    Inventors and Inventions  
 
    Middle Ages  
 
    Renaissance  
 
    World Religion  
 
    World War I  
 
    World War II  
 
    World Wonders  
 



Copyright © 2018 edHelper