Ancient China Test Review
Chapter 3 – Lessons 4 and 5
Good Luck! Remember – the more work you put into your study guide, the better you will do on your
test.
Geography
1. Why is the Huang River also known as the River of Sorrows?
2. What is loess?
3. What are the geographic features of China?
What mountainous regions protect them?
What rivers are important?
What deserts do they have?
4. As with all other early civilizations, what does this civilization begin around? (Hint - Water brings
life)
5. What lies to the north of China? How (or who) posed a threat to Chinese people from this
region?
Dynasties
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What are dynasties?
What are oracle bones? How did priests interpret them?
When do they come into power and when do they fall?
What excuse do they use to explain the succession of power?
What is the prehistoric dynasty that existed before the Shang? When did we first confirm their
existence with artifacts? – Remember that the Aryans are most likely the ones who migrated to
this area and created this dynasty
What is the Shang Dynasty remember for?
Why is it considered to be the first true dynasty?
In what region did the Shang rule (around what natural feature?)
What do we see as their first form of writing? How is it related to their religious experiences?
Explain the use of Bronze during this age. Why is it called the Bronze Age?
For what is the Zhou Dynasty remembered and how long does it last?
What type of government do they have? How does this reduce the amount of power of the
emperor?
How do they expand the empire?
Which dynasty overthrows the Zhou?
Who takes over? What does he name himself?
How long does this dynasty last? Why is it so short compared to the others?
22. What is the name Qin (pronounced Chin) later used to name? Why do they use the name of an
oppressive dynasty in this fashion? (Hint – What is the name of the country that we are
studying?)
23. What government system did he use?
24. What is the Qin dynasty remembered for?
25. Why didn’t he like feudalism?
26. What great public work was built during the Qin? How long is it? What did it connect that
previous civilizations had built?
27. How was it built so quickly? (Remember to build this in 10 years means that there were many
unwilling workers that were forced to work in terrible conditions)
28. What happened to the people who died while building the Great Wall?
29. What were taxes like at this time and what were they used for?
30. Who eventually overthrew the Qin dynasty and why did he have so much support in doing so?
31. This begins the Han Dynasty. What is this era also known as?
32. Gao Zu believed in what set of laws/religion to help lead the people?
33. How long did the Han exist?
34. What is to be most remembered from this time?
35. Who was their great leader that helped them to develop the Silk Road? What did he do that led
this to happen? (Remember the generals that he sent out to go explore new places.)
36. Why is the Silk Road unique?
37. How does this unite many civilizations that were previously unrelated?
38. What did it bring to China? (We know that it brought Silk and other fabrics to parts of the
Mediteranean and Egypt, but what were China bringing back?
39. How long was the Silk Road? Was it one road?
40. How did the ideas of governmental jobs change under the Han? Who was Wudi inspired by?
41. Who was not allowed to take these tests? Why?
42. Why does the Golden Age end?
43. Explain the similarities and differences of Confucianism and Daoism (See chart used in class)
44. Why does Buddhism eventually spread to China and how is it used to this day? (Think of it as a
way of life)
45. How is Daoism and Confucianism used by the government? (They are used together)