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Sourcing: An Imperial Edict Restraining Officials from Evil

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WORLD HISTORY PROJECTORIGINS/ LESSON 5.4ACTIVITYSOURCING: AN IMPERIAL EDICT RESTRAINING OFFICIALS FROM EVILUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Sourcing: An Imperial Edict Restraining Officials From Evil”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeContinue to develop your sourcing skills by analyzing a primary source document written by the Ming emperor Hongwu, in which the author attempts to influence the behavior of his subjects and officials.Assessing the point of view and intended audience of a source is essential to understanding how to evaluate the credibility of that source and the motives of its author. In your analysis, focus on the Audience and Point of Viewrows of the Sourcing Tool.Process1.Open and analyze Sourcing Excerpt: An Imperial Edict Restraining Officials from Evil.As you read the documents, focus on completing the Audience and Point of View sections of the Sourcing Tool on the next page. Your teacher might have you work in a group,with each member of the group reading just one excerpt. Note: Make sure you complete step 2, whichfollowsthe Sourcing Tool.
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 5.4ACTIVITYSOURCING: AN IMPERIAL EDICT RESTRAINING OFFICIALS FROM EVIL2Sourcing ToolProcess:Answer each of the questions below. If you are sourcing more than one document, provide responses for each.Name of document and/or source:Author’s name:Location and date source was written:Historical contextWhat about the author’s location may have influenced the source’s creation(for example, the location’s geography, demography, or the region’s political situation, religious influences, or industry)?What events might have influenced the source’s creation?What other information helps you understand this source?AudienceWho was the source created for (that is, was this written for anyone to read or was it private, for one specific person or group)?What were the readers of this source supposed to do or think once they read it?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 5.4ACTIVITYSOURCING: AN IMPERIAL EDICT RESTRAINING OFFICIALS FROM EVIL3PurposeWhat was the author’s goal, and what evidence supports your answer?POV(Point of View)Can you identify anything about the author that might explain why they wrote this? For example, does their economic class, occupation, religion, nationality, political group, ethnic group, or gender help explain why they wrote this?WhY(importance)What is the main idea of the source?What parts of this document are most valuable and why?What are the limitations of this document? In other words, where does it fall short?
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT ORIGINS/ LESSON 5.4ACTIVITYSOURCING: AN IMPERIAL EDICT RESTRAINING OFFICIALS FROM EVIL42.Once you’ve completed the Audience and Point of View sections, respond to the following questionin two to foursentences: How did the Ming emperor attempt to maintain order and control of his empire?Use information from your Sourcing Toolin your response.