Ancient China Flashcards
Main 2 rivers in China
The Huang He (Yellow River) and the Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)
Why is China isolated?
There are the Himalayas in the South, deserts in the North, and the ocean in the East
Name two deserts
The Gobi Desert and the Taklimakan Desert
Two bodies of water
The South China Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Sea of Japan
Characteristics of Outer China
Cold, rocky mountains, dry deserts, and little water/vegetation
Characteristics of Inner China
Fertile soil, plains, grassland, and lots of rivers
First dynasty of China
Shang dynasty
What did archaeologists find in Anyang?
Palace, temple, houses, workshops, tombs
Why did they believe in human sacrifices?
Kings had to be served in the afterlife
Who led Shang government?
A powerful king
What were prisoners of war used for?
Laborers and human sacrifices
What tool made armies strong?
Bronze weapons
What were the social classes?
King and family, nobles, artisans, traders, farmers slaves
What was religion centered on?
Ancestor worship
What are oracle bones?
Used to seek ancestor’s advice by reading the cracks in the shells. They were made of turtle shells or the shoulder blade of a cow
Two examples of artwork
Bronze vessels, jade trinkets, and pottery
What dynasty took over after the Shang?
Zhou dynasty
Define Mandate of Heaven
a power or law believed to be granted by the heavens
Define Feudalism
A system of government based on landowners and tenants
Define The Warring States Period
When small states joined together to fight for power over 250 years
Define Confucianism
A Chinese philosophy that emphasizes proper behavior
What are the Analects?
A book that holds Confucius’s sayings
What are the main teachings of Confucianism?
Know your position in the government, be obedient, ceremonies are important
What are the main teachings of Daoism?
People should have balance in their life, and they shouldn’t feel self important, live with the way of nature
What is another name for Daoism?
Taoism
Define Yin and Yang
Opposing forces of nature
What are the main teachings of Legalism?
People are naturally selfish, and strict rules are necessary in order for a strong government
Why was Legalism adopted?
Qin rulers wanted a strong government and organized society
First emperor of China
Emperor Qin
How did Qin conquer other states?
Military might, spies, bribery, alliances
What philosophy did Qin believe in?
Legalism
How many sections did he divide China into ?
36
Define standardizing the culture
Making the culture the same
3 ways culture was standardized
Weight, measurement, currency, writing system
Why was Great Wall built
To protect empire from invaders
How long did it take to build Wall, and what were work conditions?
10 years, mountains, deserts, swampland, quicksand, ranging temperatures
What did Qin do to Confucianism followers?
He executed them
What artifacts were found in Qin’s tomb?
Terra-cotta army, life size sculptures of warriors and animals, tools, jewels, rare objects, bronze sculpture
Why did Han come to power?
People were unhappy with the Legalist rule
What was the Golden Age?
Long period of stability and wealth
3 warfare achievements
Iron armor, crossbow, kites
2 government changes
People directed those below them, and they hired people based on a civil service exam
2 agriculture achievements
Chain pump and iron plows
2 main industries
silk and salt
Major art advancement and how did they affect people?
Paper was cheaper to produce and was easier to bind into books than silk or bamboo
2 medical achievements
Acupuncture and Moxibustion
2 science achievements
Seismograph and magnetic compass
What was the Silk Road?
trade routes across Asia for 4000 miles.
How did the Silk Road promote an exchange of goods and ideas?
It allowed cultures to spread not only goods, but also beliefs such as Buddhism.
Why was Eastern road dangerous and how did traders overcome its challenges?
It had sandstorms and bandits, traders formed caravans of camels
Why was Western road dangerous and how did traders overcome its challenges?
Traders had to travel through mountains with thin air and little oxygen. People carried their goods to save their animals from falling. There was also dangerous desert wildlife.
How did it change the daily lives of people?
It led to spreading ideas, knowledge, and goods across cultures.
