Ancient China Flashcards
What are the 2 main rivers?
Yangtze, and yellow river
What are the two major deserts in China?
The Gobi Desert and the Taklamakan Desert.
Why is China considered isolated from other countries?
China is isolated due to its natural barriers, including the Himalayas, deserts, and extensive mountain ranges.
What are the two major bodies of water surrounding ancient China?
The Yellow Sea and the East China Sea.
What is one main characteristic of Inner China?
It has a milder climate and is suitable for agriculture.
What is one main characteristic of outer China?
Mountains deserts, and hard to grow crops.
What is the name of the first dynasty in China?
Shang Dynasty
What did archaeologists find in the city of Anyang?
A palace, temple, jade, oracle bones, bones, pottery, houses, workshops, weapons, and stones.
Who led the Shang government?
The Shang government was led by a king who held both political and religious authority.
What were prisoners of war primarily used for in the Shang dynasty?
Prisoners were primarily used for labor and sacrifice.
What military tool made the Shang army particularly strong?
Chariots and bronze weapons.
What was their religion centered on?
It was centered on ancestor worship.
What are oracle bones?
Oracle bones are pieces of bone or turtle shell used in ancient China for divination.
Give 2 examples of artwork during Shang dynasty.
Vessels, jade pieces.
List the main social classes in the Shang dynasty.
Nobles, artisans, traders farmers and slaves.
What was a primary reason for human sacrifices in the Shang dynasty?
They believed that the king should be served in the afterlife.
What dynasty took over the Shang dynasty?
The Zhou dynasty
Define- Mandate from heaven
a power or law believed to be granted by the heavens
Define- feudalism
a system of government based on land owners and tenants
Define- The warring states period
A lot of small states combined into larger ones and fought for power. The wars brought 250 years of disorder to China.
Define- Confucianism
Confucianism is a Chinese philosophy that emphasizes proper behavior.
What are Analects?
Analects are a book that students of confucianism wrote.
What are the main teachings of Confucianism?
Ceremonies are important, and respect your parents and rulers.
What are the main teachings of Daoism?
They were based off of the idea Dao (the way). Which was thought to be the force that gave order to the natural universe.
What is another name for Daoism?
Taoism
Define- Yin and Yang
The Daoist concept of opposing forces of nature
What are the main teachings of Legalism?
The primary focus of Legalism in governance is the establishment of strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order and control.
Why was legalism adopted?
It was adopted because it offered new answers about how to solve problems that interfere with order and good government. It came out of a time of trouble.
What was the first emperor of china?
Emperor Qin
How did Qin conquer other states?
He used military might, spies, bribery, and alliances.
What philosophy did Qin believe in?
Legalism
How did he divide China into sections?
Into 36 districts.
What is standardizing culture mean?
It means to make the same.
Three ways the culture was standardized?
A system of weight, money, writing.
Why was the great wall built?
To protect the empire from invaders
How long did it take to build the Great Wall and what were the work conditions?
10 years, and the work conditions hard. The weather was harsh, and crossed through mountains or deserts.
What did emperor Qin do to those that believed in confucianism?
He executed them.
What artifacts were found in the Emperors tomb?
