Ancient China Flashcards
Main 2 rivers in China
Yellow river, Yangtze river
Why is China isolated
Mountains, Deserts, Oceans
What are 2 Deserts
Taklimakan Desert, Gobi Desert
Name 2 bodies of water surrounding China
Japanese Sea, South China Sea
Outer China
Mountains, Deserts, Hard to grow crops
Inner China
Vegetation, Rivers, Soil, Transportation
What was the first dynasty in China
Shang dynasty
What did archeologists find in the city of Anyang
Palaces, Temples, Pottery, Houses, Workshops, Wepons, Artifacts
Why did they believe in human sacrifices
The king shall still be served in his afterlife
Who led the Shang goverment
A Powerful King
What were prisoners of war used for
Labors and Human Sacrifices
What tools made the army so strong
Bronze (a very strong metal) was used to make tools
What groups made the social classes in the Shang dynasty
Kings, Nobles, Artisans, Traders, Farmers, Slaves
What was their religion centered on
Honoring their ancestors
What are oracle bones
Turtle shells, or the shoulder blade of a cow
Who took over after the Shang
Zhou Dynasty
Define Mandate from Heaven
A power or law believed to be approved by the heavens
Define Feudalism
a system of government based on tenants and landowners
Define the warring states period
small states fought each other for 250 years for land and power called the warring states period
Define confucianism
Teachings by Kongfuzi known as confusious and the goal of confucianism was to have a peaceful society
What are the Analects
Confusious had folocities that people followed
What are the main teachings of confuciansim
They wanted to teach people good character so they had a peaceful society, also a fair government and understand your place in society
What are the main teachings of Daoism
They taught them the Mandate to heaven, to have a simple life, and to live in harmony and the way
What is another name for Daoism
Taoism
Define Ying and Yang
opposites with eachother
What are the main teachings of Legalism
Good influence on each other, Banished if you critisize the government, Enforce strict laws
Why was Legalism adopted
They wanted a central government to keep an organized society after the warring states period, harder laws
Who was the first emperor of china
Emperor Qin
How did Qin conquer other states
Used military, spies, bribery and aliences
What philosophy did Qin believe in
Legalism
How did he divided China into sections
He divided it into 36 territories/sections and each one has 3 people of authority
What is “standardizing the culture”
He basically made everything equal
Three ways the culture was standernized
Currency was the same, weight measuremeants, and writing,
Why was the great wall built
To protect them from northern invaders
How long did it take to build the great wall of china and what were its conditions
10 years, It was very cold, bad terrain, lots of people were dying due to the conditions
What did emperor Qin do to people who believed in confucianism
They would get a tattoo on their face and then be sent to do labor
What artifacts were found in emperor Qin’s tomb
Tericotta soldiers, crossbows, spears, and mercury metal
Why did the Han dynasty come to power
Chinese were unhappy with the harsh teachings of legalist teachings of the rule of Qin
What was the golden age of China
A long period of stability and health
What are 3 achievements in warfare
Iron making for stronger material, crossbows for shooting from afar, kites to taunt people and send messages
What are 2 changes in the Chinese goverment
People directed people below them. (bureaucracy) Civil service exam taken so they hired smart people
What are 2 achievements in agriculture
Iron plows for planting, Weelbarrows for transportation of crops, Chain Pumps for moving water
What were 2 main industries in China
Silk and salt
What major advancements happened in art and how did it affect people
Paper was made, it was a easier to bind into books and cheaper
What are 2 achievements in medicine
Acupuncture to restore yin and yang, and Moxibustion to treat long term ilnesses
What are 2 achievements in science
Seismograph to see where earthquakes came from, Magnetic compass to tell direction
