Geography of Ancient China

Question 1

Main 2 rivers in China.

Answer 1

The Yellow River and the Yangtze River.

Question 2

Why is China isolated from other countries?

Answer 2

Because of the mountains and deserts.

Question 3

Name 2 deserts.

Answer 3

The Taklimakan Desert and the Gobi Desert.

Question 4

2 bodies of water surrounding China.

Answer 4

The Japanese Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Question 5

Main characteristics of Outer China.

Answer 5

Great extreme climates and physical features. Snowstorms are often.

Question 6

Main characteristics of Inner China.

Answer 6

Land of rolling hills, river valleys, and plains. Rivers flow through the land from the west.

Question 7

What is the name of the first dynasty in China?

Answer 7

The Shang Dynasty

Question 8

What did archaeologists find in the city of Anyang?

Answer 8

They found ruins of a palace, a temple, and houses. They also learnt a lot about the culture.

Question 9

Why did they believe in human sacrifices?

Answer 9

When a king was buried, slaves, servants, and animals were sacrificed so the king can be served in the afterlife.

Question 10

Who led the Shang Government?

Answer 10

The government was led by a powerful king.

Question 11

What were prisoners of war used for?

Answer 11

Prisoners of war spent their lives building tombs and palaces.They are sometimes sacrificed.

Question 12

What tool made the army so strong?

Answer 12

They were masters at bronze weapons and tools.

Question 13

What groups made up the social classes in the Shang Dynasty?

Answer 13

Nobles, artisans, traders, farmers, slaves.

Question 14

What was their religion based on?

Answer 14

Shang Religion was centered on ancestor worship.

Question 15

What are oracle bones?

Answer 15

Kings used oracle bones to seek their ancestors’ advice on important matters.The oracle bones were made from turtle shells or the shoulder blade of a cow.

Question 16

2 examples of artwork during the Shang Dynasty.

Answer 16

They made beautiful vessels and remarkable jade art pieces.

Question 17

What dynasty took over after the Shang?

Answer 17

The Zhou Dynasty took over after the Shang.

Question 18

Define- Mandate from heaven

Answer 18

The “mandate of heaven” is a claim which is “a divine rule over China”

Question 19

Define- Feudalism

Answer 19

A system of relationships is called feudalism, it increased the Zhou Dynasty government’s stability.

Question 20

Define- Warring State Period

Answer 20

Between about 770 and 453 B.C.E., a number of small states often fought with one another. Six or seven larger states that fought for power. These wars brought some 250 years of disorder to China.

Question 21

Define-Confucianism

Answer 21

Confucianism is based on the teachings of Confucius. This philosophy deeply influenced the Chinese government and culture.

Question 22

What are Analects?

Answer 22

The philosophy of Confucius attracted a number of students who spread his ideas and teachings. After his death, some of these students collected his sayings in a book called The Analects.

Question 23

What are the main teachings of Confucianism?

Answer 23

The teachings of Confucius had a major influence on Chinese culture. Respect for elders, proper behavior, and love of scholarship, are the teachings.

Question 24

What are the main teachings of Daoism?

Answer 24

Daoism was thought to be the way of the force that gave order to the natural universe.

Question 25

What is another name for Daoism?

Answer 25

The English version of the title is "The Classic of the Way and Its Power."

Question 26

Define- Yin and Yang

Answer 26

Yin translates to “shaded,” and yang translates to “sunlit.” True harmony comes from balancing the opposite forces of nature.

Question 27

What are the main teachings of Legalism?

Answer 27

Those who believed in Legalism believed rulers should establish strict laws and enforce them, either with rewards for good behavior or with harsh punishments for bad behavior

Question 28

Why was Legalism adopted?

Answer 28

Qin rulers wanted to build a strong central government. To achieve these goals, they adopted strict Legalist ideas. People were forbidden to criticize the government and anyone caught doing so was severely punished. Many people were executed for disloyalty and other crimes during the rule of the Qin dynasty

Question 29

Who was the first Emperor of China?

Answer 29

Qin Shi Haungdi was the first Emperor of China.

Question 30

How did Quin conquer other states?

Answer 30

He used military might,spies, bribery, and alliances to conquer the rest of the states.

Question 31

What philosophy did Qin believe in?

Answer 31

He was influenced in Legalism.

Question 32

How did he divide China into sections.

Answer 32

He divided his territory into 36 districts, which had officials to govern each district.

Question 33

What is "standardizing the culture"?

Answer 33

He made a uniform system of laws which are the same. He made it so everyone has to follow the same standards.

Question 34

3 ways culture was standardized.

Answer 34

Culture, weight measurement, and same currency.

Question 35

Why was the Great Wall built?

Answer 35

It was built to protect his empire from invaders, and it was very effective in stopping invasions and armies,

Question 36

How long did it take to build the Qin Great Wall and what were the work conditions.

Answer 36

It took 10 years with a workforce of 300,000 men to complete it. The conditions were very difficult because the wall crossed deserts, mountains, and swamp lands.

Question 37

What did Emperor Qin do to those that believed in Confucianism.

Answer 37

He believed they were traitors, so he burned all the writings and books that had to do with Confucianism. He tattooed everyone that believed in Confucianism as a ridicule.

Question 38

What articles were found in Emperor Qin's tomb?

Answer 38

Chariots, jewels, rare objects, and an army of terracotta soldiers.

Question 39

Why did the Han Dynasty come to power?

Answer 39

Because the Chinese people were unhappy with the harsh, Legalist rule of the Qin. After the emperor's death, they rebelled.

Question 40

What was the "Golden Age" of China?

Answer 40

Under Han rule, China had a long period of stability and wealth.

Question 41

What are 3 achievements in warfare?

Answer 41

Iron making, crossbows and kites.

Question 42

What are 2 changes in the Chinese Government?

Answer 42

Less harsh punishments, and civilians had to pass a test to become a official.

Question 43

What are 2 achievements in agriculture?

Answer 43

The chain pump and the iron plow.

Question 44

What were 2 main industries in China?

Answer 44

Silk and salt were 2 industries.

Question 45

What major advancements happened in art and how did it affect the people?

Answer 45

Paper was a advancement because paper was cheaper to make and it was easier to make into books. It was very affordable.

Question 46

What are 2 achievements in medicine?

Answer 46

Acupuncture and moxibustion were 2 achievements in healing.

Question 47

What are 2 achievements in science?

Answer 47

The compass and the seismograph.

Question 48

What was the Silk Road?

Answer 48

A road that led from China to the Mediterianian Sea to ship goods and get goods.

Question 49

How did the Silk Road promote an exchange of goods and ideas?

Answer 49

The Silk Road opened up the ways the trade between China and its western neighbors.

Question 50

Why was the Eastern Silk Road dangerous and how did traders overcome this?

Answer 50

Bandits stole from and ambushed travelers, while traveling, traders could experience mirages. They used camel caravans to blow out sand and camels that could carry food and water.

Question 51

Why was the Western Silk Road dangerous and how did traders overcome this?

Answer 51

Pamir Mountains were very bad because of the weather there. And the climate changed quickly badly, so traders woven silk to make warm clothes.

Question 52

How did the Silk Road change the daily lives of people in ancient times?

Answer 52

Because it gave them new resources from different country's such as glass from Rome and spices from India.