Unit 4 - China

Question 1

What is the yellow silt which gives the Yellow River its name?

Answer 1

Loess

Question 2

What are the two complementary forces that exist in harmony according to Taoism?

Answer 2

Yin and Yang

Question 3

What was the trade route that brought Chinese goods as far west as Rome?

Answer 3

Silk Road

Question 4

What is an art form involving the writing of Chinese symbols?

Answer 4

Calligraphy

Question 5

What is “the Way” or a force which provides harmony and order in nature?

Answer 5

Tao

Question 6

Which belief was included in the religion of the Shang Dynasty?

Answer 6

~Animism
~Ancestor worship
~Oracle bones

Question 7

What crop was cultivated by the farmers in the Shang Dynasty?

Answer 7

Soybeans

Question 8

What was heated and cracked to predict the future?

Answer 8

Oracle bones

Question 9

Who was the first Chinese emperor by conquering all of the warring states?

Answer 9

Hi Huangdi

Question 10

What dynasty became the longest in Chinese history?

Answer 10

Zhou

Question 11

What idea did Confucius teach to his students?

Answer 11

Children should respect their elders

Question 12

What craft was perfected by Shang artisans?

Answer 12

Bronze casting

Question 13

What ideas did Lao Tzu emphasize in Taoism?

Answer 13

~Tao is a force that provides harmony
~Nature must be understood
~Material gain is useless

Question 14

Who held power and influences in the Zhou Dynasty?

Answer 14

Nobles

Question 15

What was the only significant foreign influence in ancient China?

Answer 15

Buddhism

Question 16

Who served as the longest reigning emperor in the Han Dynasty?

Answer 16

Audi

Question 17

What barbarian tribe attacked along the Great Wall of China and the Silk Road?

Answer 17

Xiong I

Question 18

Who had power and influence in the Qin Dynasty?

Answer 18

Emperor

Question 19

What philosophy was taught at the imperial university established by Wudi?

Answer 19

Confuscianism

Question 20

Every ancient Chinese dynasty ended in warfare.

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

Many Chinese citizens call themselves “Sons of Han.”

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

Thousands of workers died while building the Great Wall of China.

Answer 22

Yes

Question 23

Shi Huangdi united China with uniform laws and currency.

Answer 23

Yes

Question 24

The Han Dynasty was found by Shi Huangdi.

Answer 24

No

Question 25

Legalism stated that rulers should be kind and generous to their people?

Answer 25

No

Question 26

Zhou rulers left their capital when the city was captured by barbarians.

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

Mahayana Buddhists worship the Buddha as a deity.

Answer 27

Yes

Question 28

Wudi became known as the “martial emperor.”

Answer 28

Yes

Question 29

Wudi forced peasants to complete the Great Wall of China.

Answer 29

No

Question 30

The Han Dynasty and Roman Empire existed at the same time.

Answer 30

Yes

Question 31

Lao Tzu created a religious philosophy called Taoism.

Answer 31

Yes

Question 32

Confucius personally wrote his philosophy in the Analects.

Answer 32

No

Question 33

The Yellow River flows from west to east.

Answer 33

Yes

Question 34

Why did the Shang Dynasty begin to call itself the “Middle Kingdom?”

Answer 34

~Chinese civilization developed in isolation (mountains, desert, long sea routes)
~Independent development brought pride

Question 35

What is the Mandate of Heaven? Why did the Zhou Dynasty emphasize this idea?

Answer 35

~Mandate of Heaven requires rulers to please the gods and defend their people
~Zhou Dynasty claimed that the overthrown Shang Dynasty had failed in their duties

Question 36

How did Chinese writing develop? How many symbols were created?

Answer 36

~Chinese writing developed so that prophecies could be written on oracle bones
~Thousands of symbols were created because each word or phrase had a different symbol

Question 37

What is the “Art of War.” How has it affected military strategy around the world?

Answer 37

~Art of War is a military treatise written by Sun Tzu

~Strategies and principles are still studied by militaries all around the world.

Question 38

What is legalism? Why is it significant in Chinese history?

Answer 38

~Legalism is a political philosophy that developed in response to Confucianism.
~Government must use absolute power and cruel punishment to preserve order.
~Legalism shaped Chinese politics under Shi Huangdi and other emperors.

Question 39

Describe the Warring States Period. Why is it significant in Chinese history?

Answer 39

~Seven large states fought for control as the Zhou Dynasty fell apart.
~Constant warfare made militaries more important.
~Shi Huangdi emerged victorious to establish the Qin Dynasty.

Question 40

Discuss the decline of the Zhou Dynasty. How did the Zhou Dynasty begin to lose power? Describe the philosophies that developed during this period. How did these philosophies affect Chinese culture and politics?

Answer 40

~Zhou kings depended on local rulers for money and troops
~Zhou king fled from the capital when it was captured by barbarians.
~Confucianism called for virtuous rulers, loyal subjects, and respectful children.
~Taoism emphasized nature and harmony over material gain.
~Legalism called for brutal rulers willing to use cruel punishment to control individuals.
~Shi Huangdi practiced legalism, but Wudi brought Confucianism back to Chinese politics.

Question 41

Discuss the reign of Wudi. What were his greatest accomplishments? How did Wudi address the dramatic population growth within his empire? How had the reign of Wudi affected people living around the world today?

Answer 41

~Longest reigning Han emperor (54 yrs)
~”Martial Emperor” expanded the Han Dynasty into Manchuria, Korea, and Vietnam.
~Effective civil service with competitive exams ended feudalism.
~Northern frontier and Silk Road were protected from the Xiongnu.
~Leveling system provided public granaries and protected growing population from famine.
~Competitive civil service and imperial university influenced government and education.