Unit 4 - China Flashcards
What is the yellow silt which gives the Yellow River its name?
Loess
What are the two complementary forces that exist in harmony according to Taoism?
Yin and Yang
What was the trade route that brought Chinese goods as far west as Rome?
Silk Road
What is an art form involving the writing of Chinese symbols?
Calligraphy
What is “the Way” or a force which provides harmony and order in nature?
Tao
Which belief was included in the religion of the Shang Dynasty?
~Animism
~Ancestor worship
~Oracle bones
What crop was cultivated by the farmers in the Shang Dynasty?
Soybeans
What was heated and cracked to predict the future?
Oracle bones
Who was the first Chinese emperor by conquering all of the warring states?
Hi Huangdi
What dynasty became the longest in Chinese history?
Zhou
What idea did Confucius teach to his students?
Children should respect their elders
What craft was perfected by Shang artisans?
Bronze casting
What ideas did Lao Tzu emphasize in Taoism?
~Tao is a force that provides harmony
~Nature must be understood
~Material gain is useless
Who held power and influences in the Zhou Dynasty?
Nobles
What was the only significant foreign influence in ancient China?
Buddhism
Who served as the longest reigning emperor in the Han Dynasty?
Audi
What barbarian tribe attacked along the Great Wall of China and the Silk Road?
Xiong I
Who had power and influence in the Qin Dynasty?
Emperor
What philosophy was taught at the imperial university established by Wudi?
Confuscianism
Every ancient Chinese dynasty ended in warfare.
Yes
Many Chinese citizens call themselves “Sons of Han.”
Yes
Thousands of workers died while building the Great Wall of China.
Yes
Shi Huangdi united China with uniform laws and currency.
Yes
The Han Dynasty was found by Shi Huangdi.
No
Legalism stated that rulers should be kind and generous to their people?
No
Zhou rulers left their capital when the city was captured by barbarians.
Yes
Mahayana Buddhists worship the Buddha as a deity.
Yes
Wudi became known as the “martial emperor.”
Yes
Wudi forced peasants to complete the Great Wall of China.
No
The Han Dynasty and Roman Empire existed at the same time.
Yes
Lao Tzu created a religious philosophy called Taoism.
Yes
Confucius personally wrote his philosophy in the Analects.
No
The Yellow River flows from west to east.
Yes
Why did the Shang Dynasty begin to call itself the “Middle Kingdom?”
~Chinese civilization developed in isolation (mountains, desert, long sea routes)
~Independent development brought pride
What is the Mandate of Heaven? Why did the Zhou Dynasty emphasize this idea?
~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
How did Chinese writing develop? How many symbols were created?
~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
What is the “Art of War.” How has it affected military strategy around the world?
~Art of War is a military treatise written by Sun Tzu
~Strategies and principles are still studied by militaries all around the world.
What is legalism? Why is it significant in Chinese history?
~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.
Describe the Warring States Period. Why is it significant in Chinese history?
~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.
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?
~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.
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?
~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.
