China world test

Yellow River

River in northern China that supported early civilization through fertile soil and agriculture.

Yangtze River

Longest river in China; supported farming, transportation, and trade.

North China Plain

Fertile region where early Chinese civilization developed.

Grand Canal

Canal connecting northern and southern China to transport food and goods.

Great Wall

Defensive wall built to protect China from invasions from the north.

Middle Kingdom

Chinese belief that China was the center of civilization.

Tribute System

System where neighboring states showed respect to China's emperor through gifts.

Tibet

Mountainous region west of China that provides a natural geographic barrier.

Xinjiang

Western region of China important for resources, trade, and national security.

Taiwan

Island that governs itself independently but is claimed by China.

South China Sea

Important shipping area with valuable resources and territorial disputes.

Warring States Period

Period of fighting between Chinese states that encouraged new philosophies.

Confucius

Philosopher who taught respect, education, and moral leadership.

Confucianism

Philosophy emphasizing moral leadership, respect, and social harmony.

Filial Piety

Respecting and obeying parents and ancestors.

Ren

Humaneness, kindness, and compassion toward others.

Li

Proper behavior, manners, rituals, and respect for traditions.

Five Relationships

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

Laozi

Philosopher traditionally credited with founding Daoism.

Daoism

Philosophy emphasizing nature, simplicity, and harmony.

Dao

The Way; the natural order of the universe.

Wu Wei

Taking effortless action instead of forcing things.

Yin-Yang

Opposing but complementary forces that create balance.

Legalism

Philosophy believing people need strict laws, strong rulers, and harsh punishments.

Fa

Clear laws and rules that everyone must follow.

Han Fei

Legalist philosopher who supported strict laws and powerful rulers.

Dynasty

A ruling family that passes power from generation to generation.

Shang Dynasty

Early Chinese dynasty known for bronze work, writing, and ancestor worship.

Zhou Dynasty

Dynasty that introduced the Mandate of Heaven.

Mandate of Heaven

Belief that heaven gave rulers the right to govern if they ruled well.

Dynastic Cycle

Pattern of dynasties rising, prospering, declining, and being replaced

Political Legitimacy

The belief that a ruler has the rightful authority to govern.

Decentralization

Power spread among local rulers instead of controlled by one central government.

Centralization

Power concentrated in one central government or ruler.

Spring and Autumn Period

Period when Zhou authority weakened and states competed for power.

Shang Yang

Legalist reformer who strengthened the Qin state through strict laws

Qin Shi Huang

First emperor of unified China who centralized government and standardized laws, writing, and currency.

Unification

Bringing separate states or territories together under one government.

Qin Dynasty

Dynasty that unified China but collapsed because of harsh rule and rebellions.

Legalist Governance

Government based on strict laws, harsh punishments, and strong central authority.

Jia Yi

Han scholar who argued that Qin collapsed because its harsh rule created resentment.

Liu Bang

Founder of the Han Dynasty who took power after Qin collapsed.

Han Dynasty

Dynasty that followed Qin and created a more stable and long-lasting empire.

Cultural Revolution

Mao's later campaign from 1966–1976; unrelated to the ancient Qin collapse.

Qing Dynasty

China's last imperial dynasty, ruling from 1644 to 1912

Manchus

People from northeast Asia who conquered China and established the Qing Dynasty.

Eight Banners

Manchu military and administrative organization used to control the population.

Kangxi

Powerful Qing emperor who expanded and strengthened China.

Qianlong

Qing emperor during a period of prosperity and territorial expansion.

Bureaucracy

System of government officials who help administer a country.

Lin Zexu

Chinese official who fought the opium trade by destroying confiscated opium.

Opium Wars

Wars between China and foreign powers, especially Britain, over trade and opium.

Treaty of Nanjing

1842 treaty ending the First Opium War; opened ports and gave Hong Kong to Britain.

Unequal Treaties

Treaties that forced China to give foreign countries special privileges.

Sovereignty

A country's ability to control its own government and territory.

Hong Xiuquan

Leader of the Taiping Rebellion who claimed to be Jesus's younger brother.

Taiping Rebellion

Massive civil war that weakened the Qing Dynasty.

Self-Strengthening Movement

Attempt to modernize China's military and technology while keeping traditional government

Meiji Restoration

Japan's rapid modernization and industrialization beginning in 1868.

Sino-Japanese War

1894–1895 war in which Japan defeated China, exposing Qing weakness.

Kang Youwei

Reformer who wanted to modernize China's government and institutions.

Hundred Days' Reform

Short-lived attempt in 1898 to modernize China's government, education, and military.

Empress Dowager Cixi

Powerful Qing leader who opposed or limited many reforms.

Boxer Rebellion

Uprising against foreign influence in China that was defeated by foreign armies.

Sun Yat-sen

Revolutionary leader who helped overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish a republic.

Three People's Principles

Sun Yat-sen's ideas of nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood.

Wuchang Uprising

1911 rebellion that triggered the collapse of the Qing Dynasty.

Puyi

China's last emperor who abdicated in 1912.

Republic

Government without a monarch where political authority comes from the people.

Warlord Era

Period when military leaders controlled different regions of China after the Qing Dynasty collapsed.

May Fourth Movement

1919 protests against foreign imperialism and weak Chinese leadership.

KMT

Chinese Nationalist Party that fought the Communists for control of China.

CCP

Chinese Communist Party led by Mao Zedong.

Chiang Kai-shek

Leader of the Nationalists who fought the Communists.

Mao Zedong

75. Communist leader who founded the People's Republic of China in 1949

Long March

1934–1935 Communist retreat that helped Mao gain leadership and support.

Second Sino-Japanese War

1937–1945 war against Japan that weakened the Nationalists and helped the Communists gain support.

Chinese Civil War

War between the KMT and CCP over control of China.

Communist Victory (1949)

Communists defeated the Nationalists and established the People's Republic of China.

People's Republic of China (PRC)

Communist government established by Mao in 1949.

Five-Year Plan

Government plan setting economic production and development goals.

Collectivization

Combining individual farms into larger, government-controlled agricultural groups.

People's Communes

Large collective communities where people farmed and worked under government control.

Great Leap Forward

Mao's campaign to rapidly industrialize and increase agriculture, resulting in famine and economic disaster.

Hundred Flowers Movement

Campaign encouraging criticism of the government, followed by punishment of many critics.

Anti-Rightist Campaign

Mao's campaign targeting people labeled as critics or enemies of communism.

Cultural Revolution

Mao's 1966–1976 campaign to regain power and eliminate perceived enemies of communism.

Red Guards

Groups of young people mobilized by Mao to attack supposed enemies of the revolution.

Little Red Book

Collection of Mao's quotations used to spread his ideas and encourage loyalty.

Personality Cult

Portraying a leader as extraordinary and deserving extreme loyalty.

Propaganda

Information designed to influence people's beliefs and support for a government.

Revolutionary Ideology

Beliefs encouraging radical change to create a new political and social system.

Class Enemies

People labeled as threats to communism because of their social class or beliefs.

Bourgeois

Middle or capitalist class, often criticized by Communists.

Revisionism

Changing or weakening established communist revolutionary principles.

Mass Mobilization

Organizing large groups of people to participate in a political campaign.

Four Olds

Old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas.

Dazibao

Big-character posters used to spread political messages and criticize people.

Struggle Sessions

Public meetings where accused people were forced to confess and face humiliation.

Counterrevolutionary

Someone accused of opposing or trying to overthrow the revolution.