Topics in Chinese History Test

Warring States Period

Warring States Period

period of turmoil and chaos where the states were at war with each other

Qin Dynasty

Originally one of the warring states which was led by Qin Shi Huangdi and later became the first imperial dynasty of China.

Portents

An omen; a sign that something bad is going to happen.

Psychotic Paranoia

The fear of others devising plans to harm or kill someone.

Qin Wall

The first version of the Great Wall of China (that was later finished by the Ming Dynasty). It protected China from the nomadic tribes attacking.

Terracotta Warriors

warriors sculpted with terracotta clay that covered Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb - several thousand of them are inside

Benefits of Qin Shi Huangdi’s Rule

created a strong army that could defend China

ended warring states period by uniting China under one dynasty, putting an end to the chaos and violence it caused

created a unified writing system

led lots of public works projects, which built the Great Wall, canals, highways, and his tomb.

created a unified weight and currency system to prevent people from being scammed when using different currencies

Drawbacks of Qin Shi Huangdi’s Rule

burnt lots of books that he didn’t find useful, including books of Confucian teachings

punished anyone who didn’t agree with his ideas and people who questioned his rule

used conscription for military service and labor service (forced labor resulting in many deaths)

his dynasty did not last much longer after his death

Han Dynasty

Calligraphy was developed into an artform

Paper was invented by Cai Lun

Confucianism was the official state ideology

Civil Service Exam: Difficult tests on confucianism, law, government, etc. that are necessary to become eligible for a job in the government.

Silk Road: A network of trade routes that greatly improved the Chinese economy and facilitated interactions with other countries

Tang Dynasty

Buddhism became more popular in China although it was discriminated at times

Gunpowder was developed drastically changing battle strategies of the middle ages

Large contributions to poetry

Empress Wu: The only female in Chinese history to take on the title of empress in 690 C.E. Other empresses in Chinese history were empress dowagers who were widows put in power after their husband, the emperor, died

Song Dynasty

Rice and tea became staples in the Chinese diet during the Song dynasty

First explosion of China’s population occurred during the Song dynasty

Foot binding became a practice for women to follow, “lotus foot” beauty standard

Pagodas and landscape paintings became popular

Mongols:The Song dynasty ended with the Mongols overthrowing the dynasty and replacing it with the Yuan Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

Great Wall: The Great Wall of China was restored by the Ming dynasty and the wall that can be seen in China today is the one restored by the Ming dynasty

Forbidden City: The imperial palace built in Beijing where the emperor lived. Civilians were not allowed inside thus the name “forbidden city”

Zheng He: A Chinese explorer, often edited as being China’s best explorer, who brought lots of knowledge about foreign countries to China

White and blue porcelain pottery became popular during the Ming dynasty. The form of pottery itself is often called “China” because of its origin in the Ming dynasty of China

Qing Dynasty

Manchu: Conquered china in 1644 and started the Qing dynasty

Opium Wars: Wars between China and foreign countries that weakened China by making them sign humiliating treaties and making them pay reparations

Taiping Rebellion:A rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan, who sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty and convert everyone to his version of christianity

Hong Xiuquan: Believed that he was the brother of Jesus and King of the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.

Boxer Rebellion: A rebellion led by peasants and supported by the empress dowager Ci Xi. “Boxers” attacked any foreign people, especially christian missionaries, and chinese who converted to christianity. Rebellion failed and made China pay reparations.

Was the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history

Who were the Mongols

Mongols: people of the Mongolian Steppe of Eastern Asia

Nomads: People who don’t stay in one place, usually traveling instead of settling down.

Ger: Houses the nomadic mongols lived in, usually round.

The Mongols herded cattle such as sheep, oxen, and horses for their livelihood.

What role did Genghis Khan plan in Mongol history?

Genghis Khan united the Mongols into one empire, and created the largest land empire to ever exist in history. As well as uniting this massive empire, Genghis Khan created major advancements in military technology, mastering the use of cavalry in warfare.

What role did Khubilai Khan plan in Mongol history?

Yuan Dynasty: Foreign-ruled dynasty in China. Led by the Mongols who were led by Kubilai Khan.

Conquered the entirety of China

Reformed law in China

Achievements of hte Mongols

Largest land empire in the world

Advanced military technology

Bureaucratic Model for future empires

Huge economic powerhouse

Artful and cultured

How should the Mongols be viewed today? Arguments for not being viewed as barbarians:

Collected and observed different cultures instead of destroying them

Created one of the greatest and most successful empires in  history

How should the Mongols be viewed today? Arguments for being viewed as barbarians:

Cruel in warfare, the Mongols left no quarter for the people they conquered

The Nationalists

A Democratic Party, founded by Sun Yatsen and most notably led by Chiang Kai-Shek. After the loss in the Civil War, most Nationalists fled to Taiwan where they still reside today.

Sun Yatsen

Founder of the Nationalist Party and former President of China (after the Qing Dynasty); An anti-Qing revolutionary who embraced western ideas (European dress and Christianity). His major goal was to create a new China based on nationalism, democracy and livelihood (economic security).

Chiang Kaishek

Took over the Nationalist party; major goal was to annihilate the Chinese Communist Party. He created new hospitals, adopted western technology, medicine and sciences, helped to improve education, built national banks, railroads, highways and factories and instilled trade under the Chinese Government (rather than foreign powers). Additionally, he set up a new Chinese republic in Nanjing.

The Long March

A notable event in the Chinese Communist Party’s history, this occurred when Mao and his army of 90000 began a race through mountains, marshes, rivers and deserts trying to evade the Nationalist Party. This happened over the course of a year. At the end, between starvation, fighting and freezing temperatures, only 9000 communists survived. To this day, the CCP celebrates the Long March as an example of their ability to overcome adversity.

World War II

A global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. During this time, Japan invaded China which resulted in the Nationalist and the Communists teaming up to overthrow the Japanese (Japanese treated Chinese very badly: Rape of Nanjing).

Civil War

Occurring almost immediately after the end of WWII between the Nationalist party and the Communist party. The Nationalists were predicted to win (more money, arms and an overall bigger army. However, they overstretched their forces, failed to prove themselves worthy to rule China and  lost support with peasants and workers (the majority population of China), Chiang=dictator with corrupt officials. Mao promised to help the peasants and workers, pushed for gender equality and through superior military tactics (guerilla warfare), he emerged victorious on Oct. 1st 1949 on declared the People’s Republic of China (Nationalist to Taiwan)

People’s Republic of China

The communist government that Mao established after chasing Chiang Kaishek and the Nationalist party out of mainland China and into Taiwan.

Totalitarian State

One political party/one leader, the CCP and Mao Zedong. Propaganda and censorship to keep support for his rule. Mao’s secret police force. Mao/CCP had full control over peoples’ lives and freedom.

Cult of Mao

cult of personality in which people came to worship Mao as all powerful and almost godlike

Hundred Flowers Campaign

Campaign that lasted from 1956-1957 where Mao Zedong encouraged schools all across the country to provide criticisms and different opinions on the communist party. Mao later outlawed expressing differing opinions on the communist party and declared those who spoke against the government traitors and jailed them.

Great Leap Forward

Mao wanted to make China industrially equal to the West in 15 years

Sped up agricultural and industrial production

Put people in communes where they worked all day and night

Mao promised a better future for the people and they were enthusiastic for a better future

Caused a huge famine that the CCP blamed on natural causes like drought and flood (killed 30 million people)

Cultural Revolution

1966-1976

Mao called upon the youth to get rid of the 4 olds (Od Ideas, Culture,  Customs and Habits)

Red Guards; students led by Mao

Chaos was the result: people’s homes were ransacked and looted, street signs were ripped down and people of power (ranging from teachers to public officials) were attacked and publicly humiliated

Mao called off the Red Guards in the July of 1968; he sent out the military to stop them and called the students back to school

Expectations of Women before the 1800s in China

• Obedient, docile, reserved, humble

• May only marry once and never remarry

• Has and raises children, preferably a son

• Does household chores such as cooking, cleaning, sewing, embroidery

• Loyalty: does not interact with other men

• Fitting Chinese beauty standards

• Refined in action; doesn't show teeth while speaking, doesn’t sway dress when standing, doesn’t move knees when sitting

Foot-binding: Chinese custom where women would wear small tight shoes to bind their feet. This was a Chinese beauty standard on women and the concept was to make the foot seem petite like the shape of a lotus.

Expectations of Women before the 1800s in China: Positives

Receive honor for their work

Control and power within the home

Takes care of children and house while the husband provides for the family

Expectations of Women before the 1800s in China: Negatives

No basic freedoms, unable to speak with certain people

Acts as a puppet or a doll by just sitting and being pretty

Restrictions on expressing emotions

Constantly well-kept and clean

What is the One Child Policy?

• Policy put in place in 1979 by Deng Xiaoping to limit couples to only one child

• Put in place to try to limit the population boom and stop overpopulation in China

• Violators of the One Child Policy were subjected to forced abortions or charged social maintenance fees for their extra children if the child was carried to term

• Women often underwent forced sterilization after having their permitted one child

How did the one Child Policy impact gender?

• An old ideal in Chinese society is that it is the wife’s duty to provide her husband with a son impacted the next generation in China

• Couples who found out they were having a daughter would oftentimes get an abortion so they could try again for a son as they wanted their one child to be a son

• girls born in China being abandoned or given up for adoption so their families could have a son

• Unsurprisingly, today there is a national shortage of women in China

Tiananmen Square: Protests Leading up to June 1989

The protests were mostly peaceful but quickly turned violent. It was described as an intellectual protest for more political freedoms.

Tiananmen Square: Government Response (June 3 and 4)

Declared martial law

People’s liberation army deployed multiple infantry regiments to deal with the protest, however they were sent back proceeding public outcry

~300,000 Soldiers deployed

-On June 4th, more soldiers were deployed along with armored tanks sent into Tiananmen Square.

After a scuffle with the protesters, the military opened fire upon the demonstration in Tiananmen Square

(Estimated death toll went up-in the thousands)

Tiananmen Square: Tank Man (June 5)

Tank Man was a man who protested by standing in front of 4 tanks in the middle of the road.

His identity is still unknown today

How does China use censorship today?

• Tiananmen Square Massacre and Tank Man:

• Inspires Rebellion / Symbol of Rebellion

• Points out flaws in the government (CCP)

• Disagreement among the people & government (CCP)

• Tiananmen Square Massacre: Fired against Chinese civilians and students, making the government look bad

• The Great Firewall of China: The Chinese Government’s (CCP) internet censorship and surveillance project, also commonly referred to as the Golden Shield Project

  • Filters limit access to foreign websites

  • Prevents anything indecent or critical of China

  • Employed across:

    • Propaganda Departments

    • Private Corporations &  New Outlets

  • Deletion of Posts & Fake Comments

  • Imprisoned for criticism of CCP or your rights