Quiz Review: Ancient China
Your quiz on Monday, 2/17 will cover Ancient China, and will be worth 60 points. . Below is
some key information to help you guide your study for the test, organized by slide presentation.
Ancient China: Geography & Early Societies
● What were the key geographic features of China?
○ Geographic barriers helped isolate China
○ West: Tian Shan mtns and Himalayas
○ Southeast: jungles; helped separate China from Southeast Asia
○ North: Gobi Desert
○ East: Pacific Ocean
○ Level of isolation had impact on China’s overall cultural development
● What impact did these geographic features have on the development of Chinese
civilizations? How did they view themselves?
○ Helped split China from Southeast Asia and isolate China
○ Impacted China’s cultural development
○ Viewed themselves as though they were in the middle of the world
● What are the 2 key river valleys that civilization developed around? What were the
positive and negative features of these locations?
○ Yellow River
■ Known as China’s Sorrow
■ The soils is fertile and easy to work with
■ Suited for wheat and millet farming
○ Yangtze River
■ 3rd longest in world
■ Weather is warmer and wetter
■ Fertile soil for rice paddy agriculture
○ Negative
■ Yellow river had frequent and devastating floods; caused damage in
fields and villages
■ Yangtze River had a lot of climate change and pollution
● What are the sources of information for the earliest Chinese civilizations?
○ The Book of Documents which was written in 1040 BCE
■ Anonymous and earliest book written in Chinese
● What is significant about the Longshan culture?
○ First to set up large cities
○ Organize groups of people for large scale projects
○ Divide population into social groups
● What are the key characteristics of the Xia Dynasty?
○ Considered legendary
○ Established by Yu the Great
○ No contemporary records
○ First dynasty in Chinese history
● Who is the legendary founder of the Xia Dynasty? What did he accomplish according to
the legends?
○ Yu the Great
○ Flooding worried Emperor Shun so the people agreed that Yu was the one
who could succeed with taming the flood
○ Yu asked the gods for soil, and he received some
○ Yu flew all over the land to plug springs with soil
○ Problems was solved
● What were some of the key discoveries/innovations of the Xia Dynasty?
○ Irrigation
○ Farming
○ Domesticating animals
Ancient China: The Shang Dynasty
● Who was the first king of the Shang Dynasty?
○ King Tang
● What is the historical significance of the Shang Dynasty?
○ Ruled the Yellow River Valley
○ Hereditary monarchy
○ organized social classes
○ Polytheistic
○ Vast elaborate tombs of Shang royal family
● When were the historical accounts of the Shang Dynasty written, and why are they
considered to provide accurate information?
○ Long after Shang Dynasty
○ Information written on oracle bones which provided evidence
● What were the Oracle Bones, and what was significant about their discovery.
○ Oracle bones: inscriptions of divination records on bones or shells of animals
○ Oldest surviving form of Chinese writing
● What was discovered at the Shang capital of Yin (modern day Anyang), and what did we
learn about this time period from that discovery?
○ Fu Hao’s unlooted tomb
○ Learned about resources that were unavailable to residents of royal court
and everybody else
● Briefly describe Shang religious practices.
○ Worshipped Shang Di — supreme god over lesser gods
○ Worshipped ancestors
○ Sacrificed animals
○ If failed to worship ancestors, their family and kingdom would experience
many problems
● What were the key advancements/innovations of the Shang Dynasty?
○ Writing
○ Bronze casting
○ Domesticating animals (mainly horses)
○ Development of the chariot
● Who was the last ruler of the Shang Dynasty and how does the historical record describe
him?
○ Di Xin
○ Described as a cruel ruler
■ Killed his uncle among several other evil deeds
Ancient China: Zhou Dynasty and the Hundred Schools of Thought
● Why is the Zhou dynasty called the “Enduring Zhou”, and how was this dynasty
organized?
○ Because it lasted longer than any other in Chinese history
○ Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou
○ Spring and autumn periods
○ Warring states period
● What is the Mandate of Heaven? Why was it used, and how did it affect future dynasties?
○ Mandate if Heaven: divine source of authority of china’s early kings and
emperors
○ Used for 30 centuries to justify rules of various dynasties
○ If rulers didn’t abide by it, the state would suffer
● What is the Dynastic Cycle?
○ Old dynasty lost mandate by taxing too much, stopped protecting people, let
infrastructure decay, and treated people unfairly
○ Disaster struck
■ Floods, earthquakes, peasant revolts, invaders attacking, and bandits
raiding country
○ The new dynasty claimed the mandate and brought peace, rebuilt
infrastructure, gave land to peasants, and protected people
● What were the main accomplishments of the Eastern Zhou?
○ Crossbow
○ Iron work replaced bronze
○ Increased agricultural production
● Why is the late Zhou period considered the “Golden Age of Chinese sPhilosophy?”
○ Because the ideas were discussed and refined, and influenced lifestyles and
social consciousness up to present day
● What are the 3 main philosophies that we discussed that impacted Chinese government
and life?
○ Confucianism
○ Daoism
○ Legalism
● What are the main ideas of Confucianism? Who was the founder and what is the name of
the main text for these beliefs?
○ Being virtuous and respectful
○ Moral integrity/self-control
○ Educated and conscientious rulers
○ Main text: Analects
○ Founded was Confucius
● What are the main ideas of Daoism (Taoism)? Who was the founder and what is the name
of the main text?
○ Founder was Lao Tzu
○ Significant texts: Tao Te Ching
○ Focused on understanding fundamental nature of the world
○ Pointless to waste time and energy on problems
○ People should avoid interfering with nature and each other
● What are the political implications for each of these beliefs?
○ Confucianism: taught that disciplined people would possess self control and
leading skills
○ Daoism: encourages development of reflective and introspective
consciousness
Ancient China: Qin and Han Dynasties
Qin Dynasty
● How did the Qin Dynasty emerge, and what was its importance? How long did it last?
○ Qin captured the capital of Chengzhou
○ It emerged as the most powerful dynasty
○ lasted 15 years
● The philosophy that was embraced by the Qin Dynasty was Legalism. Describe the key
concepts of Legalism, and name the founder and key text.
○ Founder: Han Feizi
○ Human nature is bad
○ Strict laws and punishments would keep order
○ Laws and punishments get people to do things they wouldn’t do
● Who was the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty? Who was his advisor that was influential
to the kingdom?
○ Zheng
○ His adviser was Lu Buwei and Li Si
○ He banished Lu Buwei and Li Si continued to be influential
● How did Emperor Zheng (Shi Huangdi) employ legalism to support his rule?
○ He had employment be about how someone could do something (by their
ability) rather than their relation, or rank
● The Qin Dynasty was known for many achievements/accomplishments. Identify some of
the achievements.
○ Standardized measures and weights
○ Standardized the system of writing
○ Standardized axle width of wheels
○ Coins made with a square hole
● How was standardization used to support the Qin dynasty?
○ Gave them a sense of shared culture and common identity
● What were some of the key building projects of this dynasty?
○ The Great Wall of China
○ The Terracotta Army (the necropolis of Qin Shi Huangdi)
● Describe the fall of the Qin Dynasty
○ Scholars, peasants, and nobles grew resentful of harsh policies and complete
control
○ After death of Shi Huangdi, country unraveled
○ Rebel groups fought among themselves
○ Country fell into civil war
Han Dynasty
● Briefly describe the characteristics of the Han Dynasty, and note its divisions.
○ Had two periods
■ Former Western Han Dynasty
■ Later or Eastern Han Dynasty
○ Compared to Roman Empire in terms of rule, power, prestige, and historical
significance
● Who was the first emperor of the Han dynasty and what was unique about his
background?
○ Liu Bang and he was of humble birth
● $How did Liu Bang address the legalism of the Qin dynasty?
○ He discarded harsh policies
○ Issued a three article code of law
○ Retained some practices of Qin
■ Three ministries
■ Division of local government into provinces
■ Continued choosing government officials on merit
● What became the basis for the state philosophy?
○ Confucian principles
● What was significant about the reign of Emperor Wu?
○ The country doubled in size
○ Made a policy of expanding the empire through war
○ Undertook major building projects
● How did Emperor Wu deal with the Xiongnu?
○ He tried to appease them, but it didn’t work so he went to war with them and
won
● Who was Zhang Qian? How did he impact China in a powerful way?
○ He was an official for Wudi
○ Sent to search for ally to fight against Xiongu
○ After 13 years he came back and the emperor decided to gain control of
regions
■ Turned it into Silk Road
● Who was Sima Qian and why was he important?
○ He was an historian who lived during the rule of Wudi
○ His records of the Grand Historian set standard for Chinese historical
writings
● Name some of the key achievements/accomplishments during the Han dynasty.
○ Development of paper
○ Compass
○ Establishment of Silk Road
○ Seismoscope
○ Civil service system
● Who was Wang Mang and why was he significant?
○ Government official who usurped the Han throne
○ His usurpation marks the end of the Former of Western Han period
● Who was the first leader of the Later or Eastern Han dynasty.
○ Liu Xiu
● When did the Han dynasty come to an end?
○ 220 CE
