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Time Compass

Ancient China (#106)

TV Schedule:

This program introduces students to the philosophy and achievements of Ancient China. Beginning with the geography of the country, the episode relates China’s vast climatic contrasts to the Chinese belief in natural forces in a state of balance. Beginning at 5,000 years B.C., it traces the Chinese dynasties to the time of Qin Shi Huang and the construction of the Great Wall of China. The story of the emperor’s burial with thousands of terra cotta warriors is also told. Next, the scene shifts to the birth of Confucius and the principles of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. At this point, the Time Compass recalls that the Roman Republic was expanding under the leadership of Julius Caesar. Further on, students learn about Chinese medicine, calligraphy, gardens, and Chinese inventions, including the creation of silk fabric. This naturally leads to the history of the Silk Road and Marco Polo’s adventures in ancient China. [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

Information For Teachers

Grade Levels
6-8
Curricular Areas
Social Studies
Series Length
16 episodes
Average Episode Length
19 minutes
Record Rights
Recording/duplication allowed as long as IPTV broadcasts the series. If you miss the broadcast, contact your AEA for copies.

Visit the IPTV Education website to access timely, relevant resources for your classroom.

Series Description: Based on a series of books, the Time Compass uses innovative and stylized animation to portray significant historical events and transport the viewer through time to ancient civilizations from around the world. From simple inventions to influencing our modern government, these societies have shaped the way we live today.

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All Upcoming Episodes

  • Ancient China (#106)

    This program introduces students to the philosophy and achievements of Ancient China. Beginning with the geography of the country, the episode relates China’s vast climatic contrasts to the Chinese... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Mesopotamia (#107)

    This episode talks of the early civilizations that were established in Mesopotamia and the major forces of history as it traces the move from caves, to cities and towns, and eventually to civilized... [20 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • The Mayas (#108)

    Viewers learn of the elusive Maya civilization—from Mayan jaguar worship, Mayan gods who required human and animal sacrifice, and Mayan mathematicians who understood the use of “zero” hundreds of... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Vikings & Celts (#109)

    This esisode introduces students to the northern conquerors—the Celts and Vikings. It explains that both cultures lacked a central government and were eventually conquered because of this. It... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • The Byzantine Empire (#110)

    This program recounts the history of the Byzantine Empire, the schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Crusades. Episodes featuring the Time Compass... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • The Ancient Hebrew (#111)

    Explores Jewish history, from Abraham’s people journeying to the Promised Land up to the Final Diaspora. Jewish civilization is heralded as being the only ancient civilization to have survived to... [18 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Islam (#112)

    Explains how wandering Arabs began to settle around desert oasis and how Mohammed challenged traditional religious teachings with the divine principles given to him by the Archangel Garbriel. The... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Persia (#113)

    The remarkable achievements of the Persian Empire are recounted here. From shepherds to conquerors of most of the known world, the Persians ruled with sensitivity to the cultures of others and a... [20 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Ancient Japan (#114)

    Against a background of mountain islands rising out of the sea, this propgram tells of the achievements of the Ancient Japanese Empire and how the Chinese influenced the First Great Warrior to... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • The Carolingian Empire (#115)

    This episode tells of Charlemagne and the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire, and how warring European tribes predominated 5th century Europe until Pippin and his son, Charlemagne, became... [20 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Ancient Egypt (#101)

    From the annual flooding of the Nile to the mysteries of the Rosetta stone, students learn key facts about the Ancient Egyptian civilization and what was happening during the same period of time in... [19 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

  • Incas & The Andean Cultures (#102)

    At the same time as the Turks were invading Byzantium, legend has it that Inca civilization was established by the sun god, Inti, who sent his representative to form the first Inca family and... [18 minutes] TV-Y7 Closed Captioning

Past Episodes

These episodes of Time Compass aired in the last few months on Iowa Public Television.

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