Untitled Flashcards Set

What are the natural barriers of China?

The Gobi Desert, Himalayan Mountains, Mongolian and Tibetan plateaus.

What effect did China's natural barriers have on civilization?

They helped isolate Chinese civilization.

Where do most people in China live?

In the Eastern half of the country due to more arable land and less mountainous terrain.

What is terracing?

The raising or leveling of land to use for farming.

Why is terracing necessary in China?

Because of the presence of plateaus and rocky land that needs to be evened for farming.

What is the Heartland region of China known for?

Home to early civilization and industrial farming centers.

What are the three major rivers in China?

Huang He River, Yellow River, Xi Jiang River.

What is a dynasty?

A large ruling family with ancestry dating back thousands of years.

True or False: The Xia dynasty is considered an official dynasty.

False, there is no archaeological evidence to support it.

How did the Shang dynasty come to power?

Village rulers extended power over many families leading to the establishment of the Shang Dynasty.

Who was Shang Di?

The main god of the Shang dynasty.

What was the role of the king in the Shang dynasty?

To please the gods and achieve the title 'son of heaven'.

What did the Zhou dynasty promote as a principle for rulers?

The Mandate of Heaven.

What is the significance of the Mandate of Heaven?

It justifies the right of an emperor to rule.

What are signs that a dynasty has lost the Mandate of Heaven?

Natural disasters, war, famine, and rebellions.

Define the Warring States Period.

A time of intense competition between warlords and city-states.

Who was Sun Tzu and what did he write?

A Chinese military general and strategist who wrote 'The Art of War'.

Who is considered the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty?

Qin Shi Huangdi.

Why is the Qin dynasty deemed the first legitimate dynasty?

Because the ruler won power through conquest, not by lineage or the Mandate of Heaven.

What philosophy did Shi Huang Di adhere to?

Legalism, which emphasized strict laws and harsh punishments.

What was an accomplishment of Shi Huang Di?

He created a single law code, standardized currency, and built the Great Wall of China.

How did the Han dynasty expand trade?

Through the opening of the Silk Road and the civil service system.

What is the civil service system?

A system to ensure that the smartest individuals run the government, based on Confucianism.

What are the five relationships of Confucianism?

Ruler and subject, father and son, older sibling and younger sibling, husband and wife, friend and friend.

What is unique about the ranking system in China?

People are ranked based on their contributions, rather than wealth.

What is the role of women in traditional Chinese families?

They mainly perform housework and are expected to bear sons.

What is foot binding?

A traditional practice of tightly binding the feet to keep them small.