Classical Empires & China

What was the Mauryan Empire known for?

Unifying much of South Asia and spreading Buddhism.

Who was the most famous Mauryan ruler?

Ashoka.

What did Ashoka do after converting to Buddhism?

He helped spread Buddhism throughout India.

What was the Gupta Empire known for?

Being a Golden Age of India.

What were some Gupta achievements?

Advances in math, medicine, and culture.

What number system did Indian mathematicians develop?

A system using 0–9 and place value.

What was the Mandate of Heaven?

The belief that Heaven gave Chinese rulers the right to rule but could take it away.

What could show that a Chinese ruler had lost the Mandate of Heaven?

Problems such as famine or natural disasters.

What did the Qin Dynasty do?

Unified China and created a strong central government.

What did the Qin standardize?

Writing, weights, and measurements.

What was the Han Dynasty known for?

A Golden Age, technology, trade, and Confucian government.

What technologies developed during the Han period?

Paper, the magnetic compass, and the sternpost rudder.

What was the Chinese civil service examination?

A test based on Confucian teachings used to choose government workers.

Why was the civil service examination important?

It allowed qualified people to get government jobs and created a bureaucracy.