Eastern Zhou, China · 551-221 BC

Confucius and the Hundred Schools of Thought

While the Zhou world broke into rival states, thinkers traveled from court to court with advice on how to bring back order. Students meet Confucius, Laozi and the Legalists, and debate which idea would really fix a country in chaos.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
12–16
On the map
3 steps, 500 BC to 300 BC
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

While the Zhou world broke into rival states, thinkers traveled from court to court with advice on how to bring back order. Students meet Confucius, Laozi and the Legalists, and debate which idea would really fix a country in chaos.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Explain why the Eastern Zhou period produced so many new philosophies.
  • Describe the main ideas of Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism.
  • Decide which philosophy a ruler might choose, and give a reason.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

500 BC

A world in pieces

Open the map in 500 BC. The Zhou states fill northern China, but each lord rules for himself. Zoom out to the west: which huge empire exists at the same time?

Open this view on the map
b

500 BC

Confucius at home

Turn on Historical Events and click "Confucius Begins Teaching" at Qufu. Read it. Then zoom out: how far would a teacher on foot travel to reach the other states?

Open this view on the map
c

300 BC

The Legalist state

Jump to 300 BC and find Qin in the west. Qin followed the Legalist idea of strict laws and harsh punishments. Compare its size with the other Zhou states. Which idea do you think will win?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Confucius said a ruler should lead by good example, not by punishment. Do you agree?
  2. Why did so many new ideas appear in a time of war and chaos?
  3. The Legalists believed strict laws and punishments worked better than good examples. What are the risks of each idea?
  4. Confucius taught that children should respect their parents and rulers should care for their people. Where do you see similar ideas today?
  5. Confucius never ruled a big state, yet his ideas lasted 2,500 years. How can a teacher be more powerful than a king?
4

Game round

10 min

Play Darius the Great in Rule History: he ruled Persia while Confucius was teaching in China. After each ruling, ask the class: what would Confucius have advised here? Would a Legalist have chosen differently?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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