Unit 4: Ancient and Imperial China, the Silk Roads, and East Asian Diffusion

Comprehensive question-and-answer review flashcards covering the Silk Roads, dynastic cycles, Confucianism, Legalism, Buddhism, and Chinese political history from the Qin through the Song dynasties, including Korea and Vietnam relations.

What were the Silk Roads, and during what time period did long-distance trade routes across Eurasia first develop?

They were an interconnected network of overland and maritime trade routes linking Eurasian agrarian settlements, civilizations, and trading centers, which began between 50 BCE and 250 CE.

Which Chinese general explored the Silk Road network in the second century BCE to establish connections with civilizations to the west?

Zhang Qian

How did merchants and traders typically travel along the overland Silk Roads, and why were single full journeys rare?

They typically traveled in caravans using camels, relying on middlemen along different regional segments rather than traveling the entire route individually.

True or false: The Silk Road trade network included maritime trade routes alongside overland trade routes.

True

Which Chinese-invented commodity moved west along the Silk Roads to the Middle East and Europe, fundamentally changing the nature of warfare?

Gunpowder

What was the long-term historical significance of the Silk Roads for Afro-Eurasia prior to 1492?

They made Afro-Eurasia the most technologically dynamic and interlinked pre-Columbian region in the world, helping Eurasian societies dominate globally post-1492.

Why was there a fallow trading period along the Silk Roads from 250 to 700 CE, and when did trade revive?

The slump coincided with political instability, and trade revived between 700 and 1500 CE as large empires like the Tang, Song, Islamic empires, and Mongols re-emerged.

What term describes the spread of religion, cultural practices, ideas, and technologies along trade routes?

Cultural diffusion

What is the dynastic cycle in Chinese history?

The recurring historical pattern in which virtuous dynasties rise, rule effectively, become corrupt, and eventually fall.

What is the Chinese political concept of the Mandate of Heaven?

The belief that the Chinese emperor enjoys divine favor to rule, but can lose this mandate if he allows corruption or negative developments to occur during his reign.

What historical turning point occurred in 475 BCE in ancient China?

The start of the Warring States Period, where feudal-esque warfare evolved into large-scale wars fought by mass peasant armies.

Who is depicted in this scroll portrait, whose teachings formed the foundation of Confucianism?

Confucius (Kong Qiu)

What were the central values and governing principles of Confucianism?

Tradition, ritual, social structure, and filial piety, advocating that rulers lead by moral example and ethical intent rather than through fear.

What is filial piety in Confucian philosophy?

A core tenet emphasizing respect, honor, and obedience toward one's parents, family, and ancestors.

What is the title of the collection of Confucius's teachings and conversations compiled by his disciples after his death?

The Analects

What crucial ideological debate was highlighted in the Han dynasty text 'Discourses on Salt and Iron'?

Confucianism versus Legalism

How did Mongol Grand Secretary Woren oppose Western modernization proposals in 1866 on Confucian grounds?

He argued that the proper way to establish a nation is through propriety and righteousness, not through power and plotting.

What major milestone did the Qin Dynasty achieve in 221 BCE?

It ended the Warring States Period and unified China under a centralized imperial rule for the first time.

What was the governing philosophy of Shi Huangdi and the Qin Dynasty, and how was it enforced?

Legalism, which held that the needs of the state come first and enforced obedience through strict laws, harsh punishments, and book burning.

What key administrative and infrastructural reforms did the Qin Dynasty implement?

It created a centralized state with appointed governors, standardized coinage, writing, and weights and measures, and levied heavy taxation to fund infrastructure projects.

What distinguished Liu Bang from most other emperors in Chinese history?

He was one of the few Chinese emperors who originated as a peasant before rising to found the Han Dynasty.

Which Han Dynasty technological invention was pivotal in transitioning Chinese society from an oral to a written culture?

Paper

Which Han dynasty Grand Historian is depicted in this traditional portrait?

Sima Qian

Which short-lived dynasty reunified China immediately prior to the Tang Dynasty?

The Sui Dynasty

What major achievements characterized the rule of Emperor Tang Taizong?

He presided over the promulgation of the Tang Code, implemented the equal-field system, expanded into Central Asia, and combined Confucian governing philosophy with Buddhist ritual.

What was the significance of the Tang Code?

It established a uniform written legal system across China rather than leaving justice to the arbitrary whim of local officials.

What two critical functions were governed by the Tang Dynasty's equal-field system?

Land distribution according to rank and the collection of taxes.

What printing method did the Tang Dynasty develop and specialize in, prompting a communications revolution?

Woodblock printing

Who was the only woman emperor in Chinese history, ruling during the Tang period?

Empress Wu

How did the Tang Dynasty's official attitude toward Buddhism change over time?

While initially supported and flourishing alongside Confucianism, Buddhism was eventually persecuted and scapegoated by emperors as a corrupting 'foreign influence.'

How did the Song Dynasty staff its merit-based bureaucracy?

Through elaborate, rigorous civil service examinations based on Confucian texts, ensuring officials were selected for talent and scholarship rather than aristocratic lineage.

What are the names of the two distinct chronological periods of the Song Dynasty?

The Northern Song and Southern Song

In which industrial sector did the Song Dynasty specialize in factory-like settings, leading scholars to consider it the closest pre-1700s society to industrialization?

Iron production

Which two northern nomadic peoples repeatedly invaded the Song Dynasty, eventually leading to its conquest by the Yuan Dynasty?

The Jurchen and the Mongols

Which spiritual leader is shown in this seated meditative statue, who founded Buddhism in the 5th century BCE?

The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

What is 'The Middle Path' in Buddhist doctrine?

A path of moderation that avoids the extremes of severe self-denying asceticism and excessive worldly indulgence.

What is Nirvana in Buddhist teaching, and how is it attained?

It is a transcendent state of liberation where desire is conquered, freeing the individual from suffering and the cycle of reincarnation.

How did Buddhism's social perspective on class differ sharply from traditional Indian Vedic hierarchy?

Buddhism rejected the caste system.

How did the Korean kingdom of Silla balance Chinese imperial pressure with cultural adaptation during the Tang era?

Silla militarily defeated direct Chinese rule to maintain political autonomy while voluntarily adopting Chinese cultural elements such as merit-based government, Confucianism, and Buddhism.

During what years was Vietnam under direct Chinese imperial rule, and what enduring cultural trait did this experience foster?

From 111 BCE to 938 CE, fostering an enduring spirit of anti-colonial resistance that became integral to Vietnam's national character alongside adopted Chinese ideas like the Mandate of Heaven.

In the Review Game trivia round, which director directed the 1963 horror movie 'The Birds', and approximately how many bird species exist worldwide?

Alfred Hitchcock; approximately 18,000 species

In the Review Game trivia round, what American city was the grunge music scene associated with, and who were two other members of the band Nirvana alongside Kurt Cobain?

Seattle; Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, or Pat Smear