In this activity, students will examine the four-occupation social structure of ancient China, exploring how each class was defined by its economic role and how rigid class boundaries affected the everyday experiences of people from the emperor down to the slaves. They will analyse the power relationships between the shi, nong, gong, and shang classes, consider the position of women within this hierarchy, and evaluate the ways in which the mandate of heaven gave the emperor authority over the entire population.

It has 8 questions for students to answer, as well as a paragraph response section for them to demonstrate their understanding of the topic.