Ancient China Study Guide

Confucianism 1) This philosophy believed that respect was necessary, especially towards your elders and your family (filial piety)

Daoism 2) This philosophy believed that all creatures, except humans, live in harmony.

Buddhism 3) This philosophy was a religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. It was founded in India and spread to China along the Silk Roads (cultural diffusion)

Legalism 4) This philosophy believed in strict laws and punishment and that rulers should force people to obey laws

Daoism 5) This philosophy believed a good leader took little action, leaving people to live a simple life with nature

Daoism 6) This philosophy believed a universal force called the Way guided all things

Confucianism 7) This philosophy believed that rulers should set a good example and lead by example

Buddhism 8) This philosophy believed that people could reach a state of peace called Nirvana and believed in the eight fold path, which were 8 basic laws to guide people through life.

Legalism 9) This philosophy was founded by Han Fei, who believed that people were naturally evil and must be forced to obey laws. They censored people from speaking about the government and burned certain books

Buddhism 10) This philosophy focused on meditation and clearing one’s mind and heart of feelings of wanting and suffering. They believed that suffering could be ended if people stopped wanting things.

Confucianism 11) This philosophy was founded on values of love and respect, and includes the idea of treating others the way you want to be treated (the golden rule)

Legalism 12) This philosophy did not believe family was important, their sole goal was to punish those who would not follow the laws.

13) What were the main geographical features of China 13) What were the main geographical features of China? How would these geographical features be used to help or hurt China? Deserts and Mountains – cut off from other civilizations, difficult to invade, came up with own ideas Rivers – transportation, fertile soil for farming Built Great Wall to defend against attacks from the north

Near rivers – provided transportation, fertile soil for farming 14) Where did Chinese civilization first develop (geographically)? Why would they want to live there? Near rivers – provided transportation, fertile soil for farming

1. Wheel barrow – helped with moving large loads by hand 15) List 5 accomplishments or inventions that helped advance Chinese civilization AND explain why they were important 1. Wheel barrow – helped with moving large loads by hand 2. Gun powder – originally use for fireworks 3. Silk – rich luxurious fabric only the Chinese knew how to make 4. Paper – used for record keeping, inexpensive way to mass produce writings 5. Pictographs – Chinese writing system still used today 6. Acupuncture – form of medicine still used today 7. Plow – used to help produce more food from farming 8. Coin system – universal system used during the Zhou Dynasty 9. Crossbow – weapon invented during the Zhou dynasty

15) List one idea or belief that spread along the Silk Roads (cultural diffusion) Merchants discussed how they lived their lives and their different belief systems, which these ideas eventually made their way to other areas of the world. Philosophies like Buddhism began to move from India into China, and is still a well known religion today.

17) a set of rulers all from the same family Dynasty

18) N overland trade route that linked China to the West Silk Roads

19) A belief that a ruler had the gods’ approval Mandate of Heaven

20) A period of great conflict and war in China from 481 bce to 221 bce Warring States

21) A set of beliefs about the world and how to live Philosophy

22) belief that children should respect their parents Filial Piety

23) The spread of ethnic ideas and customs to other areas of the world Cultural Diffusion

24) The system of writing developed by the Ancient Chinese was called Pictographs

25) A bone or shell used for record keeping or religious rituals in the Shang Dynasty Oracle Bone