Unit 1 Global

Recite the order of the dynasties

Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song

Arable

Able to be farmed

Characteristic climate of East vs West

East is wet, West is mountain-y

Identify five factors of Chinese isolation

Gobi/Taklamakan deserts to the North central/west

Himalayas on the West side are hard to cross

Tibetan Plateau is high, non-arable, and cold

Great Wall to the NE

Coastline is highly visible.

Identify three unifying factors within China

“Zhongguo”- idea that China mediates between earth and heaven

Huang He and Yangtze Rivers

Grand Canal connects the country and eases food transfer

Place where Chinese society began/flourished

Huang He RIver

The basing of society around a river led to…

Agriculture

Rulers of the Shang Dynasty

Kings

Agriculture supports gain in

Population and specialization

Cities go hand and hand with

Hierarchy

Loess Plateau

Rich/loose dirt; easy flooding leads to nickname “China’s sorrow”

What resulted in the end of the Shang Dynasty?

The Zhou rebelled after inventing the Mandate of Heaven as justification

The Zhou occupied a _____ system of hierarchy. Describe it

Feudal; ruled by a king who gives land to nobles. Peasants receive land from nobles. This carries into a social hierarchy. Peasants use well-field system and donate the central field as taxes to the king.

The Zhou’s ancestral worship comes from

Confucianism

Daoism

A school of thought involving peace/balance with nature. Inaction is prioritized over defying a natural order/way (the dao). Founded by Laozi, although it is debatable that he really lived. Author of the Dao de Jing

Confucianism

A school of thought highlighting education, morals, and virtue. Famous 5 relationships. Founded by Confucious.

The Warring States Period

Came at the end of the Zhou Dynasty. A period of war between different parts of the country. Eventually resulted in the loss of the Mandate of Heaven and the beginning of the Qin Dynasty.

Legalism

A very strict school of thought involving harsh punishments. Largely employed by Shi Huangdi in the Qin Dynasty. This government was effective in the short term, as opposed to the long term. Involved belief that humans were inherently selfish, which justified punishments.

Shi Huangdi

The main emperor of the Qin Dynasty and the first emperor of China. Employed legalism to gain control. Promoted physical unification by destroying walls and building canals. Used very heavy taxes (nearly 50%). Standardized weights, measures, and currency. Mercury death.

The Art of War

A “how to” book, partially in strategy of war, partially philosophy. Written by Sun Tzu and a combination of Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism to create a unique successful strategy.

Buddhism

A school of thought originating in India by Siddhartha Gautama and involving no hierarchy. Gaining popularity later in China, spread by Silk Road. Believes that life=suffering, and that suffering stems from desire. Everyone is equal.

Han Dynasty

Founded by Liu Bang after Shi Huangdi’s son loses MoH. Famous for employing Confucianism and the Civil Service Exams. Taxes are high, but not outrageous. Women gain oppurtunities.

The Martial Emperor/Wudi

A Han Emperor who was famous for largely expanding China through martial conquest, expanding to Korea and Vietnam. Divided society into four levels.

Sui Dynasty

A very short dynasty only lasting two emperors, but pulled China out of a long warring states period. They lost favor due to overworking laborers to build the Grand Canal

Tang Taizong

Takes power after Sui Dynasty falls and creates the Tang Dynasty.

Wu Zhao

Becomes a wife of Taizong at 13, and marries his son after his death. When that son grows ill, acts as de facto leader for nearly 30 years. After his death, becomes official leader for 15 more years. Defies Confucian ideas of women.

Song/Tang Dynasties

Both use Civil Service Exams, see population soar, and see many advancements in inventions, art, and poetry. Trade and Religion have spread along the Silk Road. Women’s place in society backslips, and foot-binding processes gain popularity.

The Silk Road

A system of paths that connected the East to the West. It helped contribute to the spread of trades, ideas, and diseases.

Oracle Bones

Prominent during the Shang Dynasty, proved that the Shang had a set system of writing. Wrote “prayers”, wishes, and questions on shoulder bones and watched how they cracked and the patterns of their burns for answers.

The Grand Canal

The largest canal, dug N to S from the Huang He to the Yangtze. Eases travel of food in both directions.

Neo-Confucianism

A school of thought that incorporates Confucianism with Daoism and Buddhism. It kept most of the important aspects of Confucianism, but added a spiritual/religious element.

Footbinding

A process utilized by the Song Dynasty that involved tightly binding young girls’ feet to deform them into appearing smaller. This often crippled the girls, making them nearly or fully incapable of walking on their own.