Government of Ancient China

Question 1

Define dynasty

Answer 1

When one family rules a country or region over a long period of time.

Question 2

Define dynasties

Answer 2

A line of hereditary rulers of a country.

Question 3

Generally, who will be the ruler of the land (like an emperor or king)?

Answer 3

the head of the family

Question 4

When will another member of the family take power and who would take power?

Answer 4

When that ruler dies, another member of the family takes power

Usually the oldest son will take power.

Question 5

When does a new dynasty begin?

Answer 5

When a new family takes control (after winning a war)

Question 6

What is aristocracy?

Answer 6

government by a relatively small privileged class or by a minority consisting of those presumed to be the best qualified to rule.

Question 7

What is meritocracy?

Answer 7

A ruling or influential class of educated or able people.

Question 8

What is mandate of heaven?

Answer 8

This is what the Chinese people believed gave their rulers the right to be king or emperor. It meant that the gods had blessed that person with the right to rule.

Question 9

A ruler had to be_________________ to keep the mandate of heaven

Answer 9

a good and just ruler

Question 10

What happens when a ruler or dynasty loses power?

Answer 10

They must also have lost the mandate of heaven.

Question 11

What form of government did Ancient China have and who was it headed by

Answer 11

Ancient China had a dynastic form of government headed by an emperor and a royal family.

Question 12

Identify the major dynasties that controlled China.

Answer 12

1.Xia
2. Shang
3. Zhou
4. Qin
5. Han
6. Sui
7. Tang
8. Song
9. Yuan
10. Ming

Question 13

Who was the supreme executive?

Answer 13

the emperor

Question 14

The emperor was the_______________________________________________________________________

Answer 14

1. supreme executive
2. highest legislative authority
3. last source of appeal
4. supreme commander of the military.

Question 15

The emperor could_____________________________________________________________________

Answer 15

1. direct government policy,
2. introduce new law codes and taxes
3. make appointments
4. give favours, privileges, and titles
5. dish out punishments
6. award pardons
7. overrule any official or existing law, even if a consideration of precedence was required.

Question 16

The emperor was widely seen as a______________________

Answer 16

paternal figure and moral pilot to the ship of state

Question 17

What was the first dynasty in Ancient China?

Answer 17

the Xia dynasty
( not much is known about this dynasty)

Question 18

Tell me about the Shang Dynasty.

Answer 18

• The Shang ruled much of the area along the Yellow River.

-Their last capital city was the great city of Yin.

Question 19

Which dynasty is the longest ruling dynasty in the history of China?

Answer 19

The Zhou Dynasty

Question 20

Which dynasty first used the Mandate of Heaven to justify their rule?

Answer 20

The Zhou Dynasty

Question 21

Much of the land was ruled by feudal lords who were_________ of the Zhou family.

Answer 21

relatives

Question 22

In which dynasty was the beginning of the Chinese Empire?

Answer 22

The Qin Dynasty

Question 23

Who became the first Chinese Emperor?

Answer 23

Shi Huangdi

Question 24

What advancements were made in the Qin Dynasty?

Answer 24

• the beginning of the Great Wall

-standards were set for weights, measures and money

-many roads and canals were built

-a single type of writing was used throughout the country