Ancient China Flashcards
Main 2 rivers in china
Yellow river + Yangtze
Why is China isolated from other countries?
Oceans + Deserts+ Himalaya Mountains and the great wall of China.
Name 2 deserts
Gobi Desert + Taklamakan
2 bodies of water surrounding China.
Japan sea + East China sea + Yellow sea
Main characteristics of Outer China
Mountains, Deserts hard to grow crops
Main characteristics of inner China
Hills, river valleys, Plains, and its easy to live there.
What was the name of the first dynasty in China?
Shang dynasty
What did Archeologists find in the city of Anyang?
Tombs, temples, bones and workshops for artisans
Why did they believe in human sacrifices
The king needed people to work for him in the after life
Who led the Shang government
A powerful king
What were prisoners of war used for
Slaves and human sacrifices
What tool made the army so strong
bronze weapons
What groups made up the social classes in the Shang dynasty
King, Nobels, Artisans, Traders, Farmers, Slaves.
What are oracle bones?
Bones or shells that were used to communicate to their ancestors
2 examples of artwork during Shang dynasty
jade pots and bronze objects + vessels
What dynasty took over after Shang?
Zhou dynasty
Define mandate from heaven
divine right to rule china
What was their religion centered on
Ancestors
Define feudalism
A system of government based on tenants and landowners
Define the warning states period
a group of small states turned in to large groups of 6-7 people and it started a war
Define Confucianism
a system of order in which the goal was to reach a peaceful society
What are Analects
A book that Confucius wrote called the Analects
what are the main teachings of confucianism
peace,fair society,respect and being honest
what are the main teachings daoism
Living in harmony with nature and self importance “The way”
What’s another name for daoism
Taoism
Define ying & yang
sunlit and shaded/opposite of each other
What are the main teachings of legalism
people are rude + selfish + punish people if they do things wrong
Why was legalism adopted
because people thought humans were nationally selfish
What was the first emperor of China
Emperor Qin
How did Qin conquer other states
He used military might and alliances
What Philosophy did Qin believe in
Legalism
How did he divided China
He split it into 36 pieces
What is “standardizing the culture”?
To make the country the same
Three ways the culture was standardized
currency,weights and measurements
why was the Great wall Built
to keep the people from the north out
How long did it take to build the Great wall and what were the work condition
It took 10 years and the work conditions were very cold and it was huge so it was very hard.
What did emperor Qin do to those that believed confusionism?
He killed them
What artifacts were found in his tomb?
His tomb was surrounded by a mercury river and inside was spears,crossbows and tarracotta warriors
Why did the Han dynasty come to power?
because they were not happy with the harsh legalist
What was the Golden age of China?
Stability + wealth
What are the 3 achievements in warfare?
iron making , crossbow and kites
What are 2 changes in the Chinese government?
Confucian,moral behaivor
What are 2 achievements in agriculture?
Making the Chain pump and iron plows
What were 2 main industries in China?
Salt and silk
What major advancements happened in art and how did it affect people?
paper
What are 2 achievements in medicine?
Acupuncture and Moxibustion
What are 2 achievements in science?
Seismograph and Magnetic compass
What was the silk road?
trade routes connecting China with Europe
How did the silk road promote an exchange of goods ideas?
lots of good trading routes allowing people from different places and cultures.
Why was the eastern silk road dangerous and how did traders overcome its challenges?
extreme weather storms.Big caravans and local guides helped them overcome it.
Why was the Western silk road dangerous and how did traders overcome its challenges?
Thin oxygen, small pathways and extreme weather.overcame by trading networks and adapting to the weather climate
How did the Silk road change the daily lives of people in ancient times?
Trading good ideas and also cultures and religion from different places
