Chapter 7 - Medieval China Flashcards
How did Empress Wu influence China?
She brought stability and prosperity to China.
When did Buddhism come and end in China?
Came to China during the Han dynasty.
It ended when a Tang emperor launched a campaign against it.
What is the Grand Canal?
A series of waterways that linked major cities.
How did the Grand Canal influence life in China?
It carried huge amounts of trade goods and allowed the Chinese to move goods and crops to cities.
What is gunpowder?
A mixture of powders used in guns and explosives.
Where was gunpowder used?
Was originally used in fireworks, but is now used to make weapons.
What are some Chinese inventions( or legacies)?
Paper, woodblock printing, gunpowder, compass, movable type, paper money
What was Confucianism about?
Focused on behavior and proper roles in society.
What were two basic principles that Confucianism focused on?
Ren- concern for others and Li- appropriate behavior
What are scholar officials?
An educated member of the government.
What is civil service?
Service as a government official.
When did Zheng He’s seven voyages take place?
1405-1433
In what year did Genghis Khan unite the Mongol tribes?
1206
What did Genghis Khan do in the year of 1211?
He led his armies into northern China.
In what year did Genghis Khan die, and what happened after that?
1227- all of northern China is under Mongol control
When did Kublai Khan become ruler?
1260
In the year 1279….
Kublai Khan conquered all of China and declared himself emperor. This became the start of the Yuan dynasty.
When did Marco Polo’s travels take place?
1271-1295
What is the “Period of Disunion”?
The time of disorder that followed the collapse of the Han dynasty.
How long did the Period of Disunion last?
220-589
What was the purpose of the Great Wall of China?
It protected the Chinese from the northern tribes.
What is isolationism?
The policy of avoiding contact with other countries.
When did isolationism take place in China and how?
In the 1430s a Ming emperor dismantled Zheng He’s fleet and banned foreign trade.
How did the Chinese influence agriculture?
- improved irrigation systems
- discovered fast-ripening rice and new crops such as cotton
- food was abundant so China’s population grew
How did the Mongols influence China?
They were organized into a powerful army by Genghis Khan. The Mongol empire contained all of China in 1279.
What is the Forbidden City?
A complex of almost 1,000 buildings where common people were not allowed to enter
Empress Wu ruled when?
655 during the Tang Dynasty.
