Ancient China Chapter 7 Review

How did the floods along the rivers help the Chinese?

They deposited silt, making the land ideal for growing crops.

What steps did Shi Huangdi take to unify China?

He standardized laws, writing, and weights and measures, created a money system, and made trade easier.

How did Shi Huangdi change China's old political system?

He claimed all power and did not share any power with the lords.

Who was Laozi?

famous teacher credited with writing the basic text of Daoism

How did Shi Huangdi prevent future revolts in his territory?

He had soldiers destroy city walls and take all the residents' weapons.

Why do you think the decline of the Zhou weakened the Chinese family structure?

There was no strong government to stop power struggles within families

What happened to China after the death of Shi Huangdi?

The government began to fall apart and the country fell into a civil war.

What were ancient China's two great rivers?

the Huang He and the Chang Jiang

Why is the Huang He sometimes called China's Sorrow?

It often floods, killing people and destroying land.

What information have burial sites provided about the culture of early China?

information about works of art, differences in social order, and possibly belief in an afterlife

Why were the ancient stories about the Xia rulers important?

explained geography that influenced lives and told of kings who helped people solve problems by working together

What did Legalists believe society needed?

strict laws to keep people in line, punishments that fit the crimes, and holding citizens responsible for the crimes of others

Why did Confucius believe that China needed to return to ethics?

He was upset by disorder and a lack of decency in society.

What was Confucius's view about how a family should be structured?

Fathers should set an example, children should obey parents, and family members should be loyal to each other.

What changes did Liu Bang bring to China?

He freed people from harsh government policies, lowered taxes, made punishments less severe, gave blocks of land to his supporters, and used educated officials to help him rule.

Why did Shi Huangdi standardize many elements of Chinese life?

to ease trade, communication, and travel and to make the Chinese people feel more like a nation

According to ancient stories, what was the first Chinese dynasty, and who was its founder?

Xia dynasty; Yu the Great

What is Daois?

a philosophy that stresses living in harmony with the Dao, the guiding force of reality

How did the Zhou use the mandate of heaven to justify their overthrow of the Shang?

They claimed that heaven no longer gave the Shang permission to rule, because the Shang were bad rulers.

What was the Zhou dynasty?

The longest-lasting Chinese dynasty, which began in 1100s BC.

What advances were made during the Shang dynasty?

he development of China's first writing system, use of oracle bones, war chariots, the use of bronze, and the development of a calendar

What was the Warring States period?

a time marked by many civil wars and fights for territory among Chinese lords because of a lack of a strong government

Why did the king's armies not rush to help him when invaders reached the capital in 771BC?

They had been tricked by the king who was lighting fires to entertain a friend, so they did not take the signal seriously.

How did the new Zhou political order affect society?

It granted land to nobles, and required peasants to work the nobles' land.

How did Wudi strengthen China's government?

He took lands from lords, raised taxes, placed the supply of grain under government control, made people take exams and get recommendations for government service.

What were the social classes in Han China?

upper - emporer, royal court, scholars; second class - peasants; third class - artisans; lowest - merchants

Why were wealthy merchants in the lowest class?

did not produce anything of their own, only bought and sold goods made by others

How were Han social classes different than most social divisions?

They were not based on wealth or power.

What were Confucius's ideas about family?

The father was the head of the family and had absolute power; wives and children had to obey their husbands and fathers.

Why were sons more highly valued than daughters?

Sons carried on the family line and took care of parents as they got older, while daughters went to live with their husbands' families.

What were some of the cultural and scientific achievements of the Han?

artwork, poetry, history, paper, sundial, acupuncture, and the seismograph

How did the 'fu' style of poetry differ from the 'shi' style?

Fu poetry combined prose and poetry in a long work of literature, while shi used short lines of verse that could be sung.

What were two inventions that helped farmers become more productive during the Han dynasty?

iron plow and wheelbarrow

How did the wheelbarrow aid farmers?

It allowed a single person to carry more than 300 pounds at a time.

Why do you think the Chinese were so determined to keep how they produced silk a secret?

Other countries would have been able to make the silk themselves if they knew the secret, thereby making the Chinese silk trade less valuable.

For what items did the Chinese trade?

horses, gold, silver, and precious stones

What led to China making contact with other cultures?

the Chinese empire became prosperous

How would you compare the weather patterns in the northeastern and eastern sections of China?

the northeast is cold and dry, the eastern section gets heavy rainfall

From what country did Buddism come to China?

India

What were some of the difficulties traders on the Silk Road faced?

bandits trying to steal cargo and water; harsh weather such as blizzards, heat, and sandstorms

How did the political environment in China lead to the acceptance of Buddism?

As the government became less stable, hunger and violence became widespread. The Chinese embraces Buddism because it offerd relief from suffering.

How is Buddism's spread into China an example of diffusion?

It represents the spread of one idea from one culture to another, and the resulting change in the culture.

In what way were Legalism and Confucianism similar?

Both philosophies were intended to help society.

Two great rivers flow from east to west in China Two great rivers flow from east to west in China. What does this reveal about the geography of China?

Mountain ranges there tend to run from east to west.