1. Ancient China & Japan
Vocab

2. Loess: Yellow silt blown from deserts into the Yellow River
Dynasty: a succession of rulers from the same line of descent
Mandate of Heaven: divine approval to rule
Dynastic Cycle: a pattern of rise, decline, and replacement of dynasties

3. Confucianism: Ethical system based on principals of right and wrong
Confucianism: Ethical system based on principals of right and wrong. Based on writings of Confucius.
Daoism: philosophy started by Chinese thinker Laozi, who taught that people should be guided by a universal force called the Dao (way)
Assimilation: The adoption of a conqueror’s culture by a conquered people
Legalism: A Chinese political philosophy based on the idea that a highly efficient and powerful government is the key to social order

4. Moveable Type: blocks of metal or word, each bearing a single character, that can be arranged to make up a page for printing
Footbinding: ritualistic binding of women’s feet so that the foot contorts into what is considered to be a more beautiful shape.

5. Moveable Type: blocks of metal or word, each bearing a single character, that can be arranged to make up a page for printing
Pastoralists: a member of a nomadic group that herds domesticated animals
Khanates: divided pieces of the Mongol empire after Genghis Khan’s death
Footbinding: ritualistic binding of women’s feet so that the foot contorts into what is considered to be a more beautiful shape.
Pax Mongolica: a roughly 100 year period where the Mongols imposed stability and law across much of Eurasia. Also called Mongol Peace.

6. Shinto: the native religion of Japan, based on respect for the forces of nature and on the worship of ancestors
Samurai: Loyal warrior bodyguards who protected feudal lords in Japan
Bushido: Samurai code of behavior. “Way of the warrior”
Shogun: Supreme general of the emperor’s army in Japan
Daimyo: feudal lords who owned and controlled land

8. Feudalism
Period of Japanese history where the country was dominated by powerful regional families (daimyo) and ruled militarily by the shogun.

9. Emperor The Emperor sits up front
The Emperor has no real power (hands behind back)
Spiritual leader (a figurehead)

10. Shogun The shogun stands next to the Emperor
Supreme general of the Emperor’s army in Japan
Often times more powerful than the Emperor

11. Daimyo Feudal lords who owned and controlled land
The more land you had, the more power you had
Daimyo with the most stars gets to choose their land (also known as an estate)
Daimyo will sit on top of their estate (desks)

12. Samurai Loyal warrior bodyguards who protected feudal lords in Japan
Daimyo offered loyalty to samurai for their protection
The more stars a samurai had, the more rank they had
Samurai could choose which daimyo they would be loyal to
Samurai will kneel next to their daimyo

13. Japanese Feudalism