Achievements of Ancient China (College Grade Level)
As a contribution to the website your history class is creating, you decide to write an argumentative essay that explores the greatest achievement of Ancient China. Your essay will be displayed on the website and will be read by students, teachers, and parents who visit the website.
Your assignment is to use the sources to write a multi-paragraph argumentative essay about what you believe is the most important achievement of Ancient China. Make sure you establish an argumentative claim, address potential counterarguments, and support your claim from the sources you have read. Give a strong thesis sentence in the beginning and an overall conclusion at the end. Develop your ideas clearly and use our own words, except when quoting directly from the sources. Use precise language. Be sure to reference the sources by title or number when using details or facts directly from the sources
Newsela The Cultural Heights of China's Han Dynasty
Chinese Inventions Article-2.pdf
Title: The Remarkable Achievements of Ancient China
Thesis: The most significant achievement of Ancient China is the invention of paper, as it revolutionized communication, education, art, and knowledge dissemination, ultimately shaping the world as we know it today.
Introduction:
Ancient China is known for its remarkable accomplishments, having contributed greatly to the progress of human civilization. Among various achievements, one stands out as the most significant - the invention of paper. This revolutionary development played an integral role in transforming the world, enabling widespread communication, enhancing education, preserving art, and empowering the sharing of knowledge.
Body:
One of the most compelling reasons to consider the invention of paper the greatest achievement of Ancient China is its pivotal role in revolutionizing communication. Newsela's article on the Cultural Heights of China's Han Dynasty highlights that the invention of paper opened avenues for mass production of written texts, propelling the spread of information, ideas, and culture. Unlike earlier writing materials, such as bone, bamboo, or silk, paper was much lighter, cheaper, and easier to produce in large quantities. Its lightweight nature facilitated long-distance transportation, enabling individuals to exchange information, news, and literature across vast territories. These advancements laid the foundation for future developments such as the printing press, which further revolutionized communication and learning.
Furthermore, the invention of paper led to remarkable advancements in education. Prior to its existence, education was restricted to a privileged few who could afford the expensive materials required for writing and drawing. With the advent of paper, the barriers of access to education crumbled, allowing a more widespread dissemination of knowledge. As students could now easily obtain and record information on paper, the process of learning became more efficient and accessible to all segments of society. The Chinese Inventions article underscores that this accessibility and ease enabled the establishment of schools and universities that catered to a broader population, leading to a more educated society.
Others might argue that inventions such as gunpowder or the compass were more significant achievements. While these advancements certainly had far-reaching consequences and influenced the world, they did not have the same transformative and universal impact as the invention of paper. Paper facilitated the preservation and dissemination of knowledge, resulting in a profound influence on human progress in various fields, from literature and art to science and philosophy.
Moreover, the impact of the invention of paper on the arts cannot be overlooked. Artists and calligraphers were able to express their creativity and skills more freely, with the development of specialized brushes and ink that worked efficiently on paper. This led to a flourishing of artistic expression, as artists were no longer limited by the constraints of more cumbersome writing surfaces. Han Dynasty's ceramic and murals exemplify the fusion of artistic brilliance with the ease of recording on paper.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the invention of paper stands as the most notable achievement of Ancient China. By revolutionizing communication, education, and the arts, it transformed society and impacted the world at large. The ability to record, share, and learn from written knowledge has shaped human civilization, allowing for progress in all aspects of life. From its initial humble beginnings, paper has evolved to become an indispensable medium that has shaped and continues to shape the world.