Ancient China

Question 1

How did the physical features of Ancient China it’s people?

Answer 1

Due to the most hospitable areas being surrounded by sea, mountains or desert, Ancient Chinese civilisation lived in isolation to the rest of the world. It was only under the Han Dynasty, when the Silk Road opened up, that the Chinese learned of other cultures apart from their’s.

Question 2

What are some key figure/emperors of Ancient China?

Answer 2

Qin Shi Huangdi

Confucius

Question 3

Explain Qin Shi Huangdi.

Answer 3

• Born in 259 BCE
• Became King of Qin at the age of 13
• Unified China at the age of 34 during 221 BCE
• Burning of the Books
• Legalism

Question 4

Confucius

Answer 4

• Born in c.551 BCE
• Taught Confucianism, a set of ideas that people live by. It was taught that you should be compassionate and not treat others in a way you would not want to be treated yourself.

Question 5

What are the physical features of Ancient China?

Answer 5

2 main areas of Ancient China are:

• The east. Comprising 1/3 of China, this section was the historic farming heartland and featured rivers, valleys and vast plains with fertile soil for growing crops.
• The North and the West. Making up the other 2/3, this section was considered unsuitable for farming. It featured mountains, plateaus and deserts. Most areas were to high for farming, and the rest either had rocky ground or was a desert.

Question 6

The Shi

Answer 6

1. Wealthy landowners, nobles, scholars poets and philosophers

Question 7

The Nong

Answer 7

2. Peasant farmers and their families. Valued in name but not in reality. They produced food for the whole nation.

Question 8

The Gong

Answer 8

3. Craftspeople and skilled workers

Question 9

The Shang

Answer 9

4. Merchants, traders and money lenders. Looked down upon because they worked to make money, even though they usually turned out quite rich.