Ancient China test Flashcards
What is the study of the basic ideas and beliefs of society?
Philosophy
Philosophy explores fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and the mind.
Who is a military leader that controls an area of land?
Warlord
Warlords often exercise power in regions where central authority is weak.
What is the belief that the right to rule comes from the gods?
Mandate of heaven
This concept was used to justify the rule of Chinese emperors.
What idea emphasizes that children should honor and care for their parents?
Filial Piety
Filial piety is a key virtue in Confucianism and many other cultures.
What is a symbol or picture in a writing system that combines two or more pictographs to express an idea?
Ideographs
Ideographs are used in various writing systems, including Chinese.
What is a symbol or picture in a writing system that represents an object?
Pictographs
Pictographs are one of the earliest forms of writing.
Who are upper class citizens who hold wealth and power?
Aristocrats
Aristocrats typically inherit their status and privileges.
What term refers to a person that someone is descended from?
Ancestors
Ancestors play a significant role in many cultural traditions and practices.
Which dynasty began the process of building the Great Wall of China?
The Qin dynasty
The Great Wall was built to protect against invasions.
How did Han Wudi, of the Han dynasty, reform the government?
He established a competitive hiring system based on a person’s skill
This reform aimed to create a more meritocratic bureaucracy.
What ideas were practiced by Confucius regarding duty to one’s family?
Duty to one’s family, practice good actions, government offices open to all people
Confucianism emphasizes moral integrity and social harmony.
Which major trade route spread goods from China to parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Europe?
The silk road
The Silk Road was crucial for trade and cultural exchange.
Did the Great Wall of China keep the Mongols from invading?
No
The Great Wall was not entirely effective in preventing invasions.
What job was held by the majority of people in China?
Farmers
Agriculture was the backbone of the Chinese economy.
In Buddhism, what needs to be followed to help a person reach Nirvana?
Eightfold path
The Eightfold Path outlines the practices leading to enlightenment.
Did China share the process for making silk with other civilizations?
No, they kept it a secret
The secret of silk-making was closely guarded to maintain economic advantage.
Who created Daoism?
Laozi
Laozi is traditionally considered the founder of Daoism and author of the Dao De Jing.
What is a state of perfect peace, according to Buddhism?
Nirvana
Nirvana represents the ultimate goal of Buddhism, the liberation from suffering.
What philosophy combined the ideas of Daoism and Buddhism and taught that people should be concerned with life after death?
Neo confucianism
Neo-Confucianism emerged as a response to Buddhist and Daoist philosophies.
Who created the philosophy of legalism?
Han Feizi
Legalism emphasizes strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain order.
Who was a fierce Mongol leader who invaded China?
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan is known for founding the Mongol Empire.
What was invented in the Zhou dynasty that helped soldiers stay securely on their horses when riding into battle?
Stirrups
Stirrups provided stability for cavalry soldiers during combat.
