Ancient China Study Guide-Due Wednesday, February 12th.
Test is Friday, February 14th.
Vocabulary
1. Silt- rich, fertile soil deposited from the flooding rivers.
2. Oracle Bones- bones heated and read by Chinese priests to predict the future.
3. Mandate of Heaven- belief that Chinese Kings received their power from the gods during the Zhou dynasty.
4. Silk Road- trade route from China to the Mediterranean Sea
5. Dynasty- a line of rulers from the same family
Geography:
6. What benefits did the rivers of China give to the Chinese people?
 Floods & silt made good farmland
 transportation & communication made easier
 Good source of water
7. Of all the geographic regions in China which was best suited for settlement? Explain why.
 North China Plain-climate, vegetation, ability to domesticate animals, and access to water-be specific
8. Which landforms are used as natural barriers to protect China from it neighbors?
 North-Gobi Desert
 Northeast-Yellow Sea
 East-Pacific Ocean
 Southwest-Himalayas
 Northwest-Tian Shan Mountains
9. Explain why the Yellow River (Huang He River) is known as China's joy and sorrow.
o It brings water for crops and fertile soil but it also floods and causes massive destruction and death to the people of
China.
Chinese Dynasties:
10. Put the following dynasties in order from oldest to most recent—Zhou, Han, Shang, Qin
 Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han
11. Describe how the Chinese Feudal System during the Zhou Dynasty.
 Kings gave large amounts of land to lords in return for loyalty and protection.
 Lords then gave small amount of land to peasants in return for taxes and loyalty.
12. Why do you think the Zhou dynasty lasted longer than all other dynasties?
 Feudalism worked; government was very effective to maintain control for that long
 Kings had power based on the belief of the mandate of heaven.
13. Why did the Qin dynasty build the Great Wall of China?
 To protect China from invaders
14. Explain why the Qin Dynasty encouraged people to use the same currency and writing system.
o This allowed for trading to become easier with people from different areas. It was easier to communicate with one
another.
15. Describe how Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi ruled during the Qin dynasty.
o Severe punishments for criticizing the government and didn’t respect other peoples’ beliefs if they were different from
his beliefs.
16. What were some achievements from the Qin dynasty?
 Unified China
 Irrigation systems
 Great Wall of China
 Roads
 Canals
17. The Han Dynasty was known as the Golden Age of Ancient China. Identify some of the major achievements this dynasty
invented.
o Silk
o Seismograph
o Acupuncture
o Iron plow
o Wheelbarrow
18. During the Han dynasty, there were many achievements. What achievement did they develop in the area of art?
 Figure/portrait painting
19. The Han dynasty ruled based on the Philosophy of Confucianism. Knowing this information, what were their beliefs about
family?
 Respect your elders and honor your family
Philosophies:
20. What way are all 3 philosophies similar (hint… why they were developed)?
 Create peace and stop the civil wars & disorder; help Chinese society
21. Describe the main teachings of Confucianism.
 Respect elders/parents
 Family should be loyal to each other
 Fathers should have high morals
 Always do the right thing
22. Which dynasty ruled their government with the philosophy of Confucianism?
o Han Dynasty
23. Describe the philosophy of Daoism.
 All people should live in harmony with nature
 Everything happens for a reason
24. Who was the founder of Daoism?
 Laozi
25. Describe Legalism.
 All people are selfish
 Strict laws=strong government
 Trust no one
 Harsh punishments
26. Which Dynasty used Legalism to help govern the people of China?
o Qin Dynasty
Silk Road:
27. What was the result of China trading with other cultures?
 Became wealthy
 Gained new ideas
28. Where did the Silk Road begin and end?
 China to Mediterranean Sea
29. What effect would the people of China have because they used the same coins and writing system when trading with other
cultures?
 Trade would be easier
30. What effects did the Silk Road have on China?
 China became wealthy
 Buddhism spread to China from India
 Not only products were traded but also ideas/beliefs were spread along the Silk Road
31. What products were traded on the Silk Road?
 China sent: Silk, dishware, jewelry, cast-iron products, and decorative boxes
 China received: horses, perfumes, cosmetics, carpets, jade, furs, gold, glassware, Buddhism, learned of plants
and other crops (roses, azaleas, cucumbers, walnuts)