Ancient China - Social Classes

Question 0

What is the main factor of how the Chinese respected different social classes?

Answer 0

The Chinese respected different classes according to how much they contributed to the benefit of the WHOLE society.

Question 1

Why are Merchants at the bottom of the ancient Chinese social ladder, despite them earning a very luxurious living?

Answer 1

Because they do not contribute to society; rather they work for their own selfish gain: money.

Question 2

What did nobles generally become?

Answer 2

They either became a landowner and collected taxes from the people living on their land to accumulate their wealth, OR they served in the government as military officials.

Question 3

Why are peasants well respected according to the social pyramid?

Answer 3

Peasants are well respected because they provide food for all of the country. The Chinese acknowledge that nothing can be done on a empty stomach. Although peasants were never very wealthy, but how rich you were was irrelevant to the amount of respect you received from Chinese people.

Question 4

Which three social classes are on the fifth plane of the social pyramid?

Answer 4

Artisans, soldiers and tradespeople.

Question 5

Name the order of EVERY social class according to the pyramid.

Answer 5

1. Emperor and Imperial Family
2. Nobles
3. Scholars
4. Peasants and Workers
5. Tradespeople, Artisans and Soldiers
6. Merchants and Slaves