CCP Wld. Civ. Ancient China Test

What is the first step of the Chinese Dynastic Cycle?

New Dynasty restores peace; all is good, AKA honeymoon period, people are happy b/c the government provides for them. Officials fulfill their jobs. Government focus is all about the peasants, low taxes.

What is the second step of the Chinese Dynastic Cycle?

Aging dynasty has corrupt officials, losing control, imposing heavy taxes; signals loss of mandate of heaven and people to revolt against the emperor.

What is the third step of the Chinese Dynastic Cycle?

Problems emerge: peasant rebellions, floods, famine, earthquakes, foreign invasion, this opens the floor for a new dynasty to claim the mandate of heaven.

What is the Mandate of Heaven? 

The emperor's divine claim to the throne, if the emperor is bad the dynasty has lost the man date of heaven the people believe they have the right to rebel against the emperor. 

What is the fourth step of the Chinese Dynastic Cycle?

New dynasty claims mandate, restores peace and cycle restarts. 

What is significant about the Xia Dynasty?

We know it existed, but we do not know anything about it

What is significant about the Shang Dynasty?

1. Introduced Chinese writing

2. Introduced Oracle Bones; carve questions into bones –> Heat up bones & crack bones –> priest/king would interpret future

3. Yin / Yang - light & dark = day, dark = night; daily cycle: All about balance

4. Government was Theocracy

5. Believe in god up above —> Shang Di

What is significant about the Zhou Dynasty?

1. Establish mandate of heaven & dynastic cycle

2. Longest reigning Chinese dynasty

3. Introduce Feudalism 

4. Introduce Coinage 

What is significant about the Qin Dynasty?

1. First emperor of China

2. The name “China” derives from Qin

3. Introduces Legalism 

4. Qin coinage unifies coinage 

5. Introduces 中文 calligraphy 

6. Standardizes languages 

7. Begins construction of Qin great wall; serves as speed bump against invasion; called “wall of ten thousand li”

8. Tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi; Mount li; Terracotta Warriors

What is significant about the Han Dynasty?

1. Gained control of Silk Road (Series of trade routes; carrying silk)

2. Cai Lun: developed paper in China

3. Introduced civil service positions; prove you are worthy of governing and holding government positions

4. 90% of people in China today consider themselves to be of the Han ethnicity 

What is significant about the Sui Dynasty?

Building of the Grand Canal that connects the two dominant rivers of China (Yellow and Yangtze). This improved communication within the realm

What is significant about the Tang Dynasty?

1. Ongoing struggle against northern “barbarians,” most notably Turks

2. Religious freedom 

What is significant about the Song Dynasty?

1. Rise of Neo-Confucianism

2. Bi Sheng: invented movable type printing

3. Rice farming developments; double cropping —> More food = more people

4. Discovery of gunpowder

5. Rise of foot binding popularity

Who is Fu Hao?

Shang Dynasty consort queen to Wu Ding. Known for being THEE general, also known as an advisor involved in politics. Her tomb tells us about Shang culture

Who is Qin Shi Huangdi (Ying Zheng)?

Qin Dynasty; the first true emperor of China & founded the Qin Dynasty. He unified China and began construction of the Great Wall of China. Known for his burial tomb.

Who is Liu Bang (Han Gaozu)?

The founder of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang, was originally a peasant who rose to power and became a general. During his rule, he rewards family members and loyal advisors with land，He is a diplomat

Who is Empress Lu?

The wife of Liu Bang and the first empress of China following his death. Known for bringing stability to Han Dynasty following the death of Liu Bang. 

Who is Han Wudi?

1. Apex of Han dynasty; Han will stretch from North Korea to China to Vietnam; largest land ever held

2. Negative: Passes law that says “all sons get portion of fathers land” —> Land ownership is a mess; hurts poor and the rich

3. Did not like foreign trade and investment; wanted government monopolies

4. b/c economy is not based on foreign trade he sells off government and military officer positions

Who is Wang Mang?

Usurper to Han throne. Follower of both legalism and Confucianism philosophies.  These policies are contradictory, and he ultimately satisfies neither the rich nor the poor.  Famine and natural disasters follow, interpreted by some as an indication that he does not have the Mandate of Heaven

Who is Shotoku Taishi?

Japanese prince who borrowed Chinese cultural ideas: City grid patterns, Confucian philosophies in the constitution, spread Buddhism in Japan

Who is Sui Yangdi?

Emperor of Sui Dynasty, his major achievement is building the Grand Canal that connects the two dominant rivers of China (Yellow and Yangtze).

Who is Tang Taizong?

Tang Dynasty emperor known for:

1. Tolerance of religious freedom 

2. Tolerant of foreigners 

3. Government reforms; diversifies who fills government positions 

4. Great listener; 200 grievances sent to him, and he fixed them all

Who is Wu Zetian?

Tang Dynasty Empress; only official female empress of China, known for her support of Buddhism

Who is Tang Xuanzong?

Apex of the Tang Dynasty; ruled successfully for the first 20 years, then withdrew and distributed power to incompetent subordinates. His rule represents the peak of the Tang Dynasty and the beginning of its end.

Who is Wang Anshi?

Song Dynasty emperor.  He was a reformer who cuts government expenditures in half, loans money to peasant farmers, fixes prices of commodities, and builds schools. Wang’s reforms were unpopular, and he was forced to resign

Who is Confucius?

An ancient Chinese philosopher and educator, known for his teachings. His followers immortalized his teachings in the Analects, which laid the foundation for Confucianism.

Who is Lao Zi?

Daoist philosopher who wrote the influential text the Dao Da Jing or Laozi. Translation is Book of Reason and Virtue.

Who is Mencius?

Mencius follows Confucianism but adds other elements. These elements include a greater emphasis on the rulers good behavior; otherwise they will be removed

Who is Li Si?

Legalist philosopher who argued humans are not inherently good but are weak and corruptible. Legalism and meritocracy dominate the governing philosophy under the Qin Dynasty.

Who is Bi Sheng?

Song Dynasty inventor who created the world's first known movable type system for printing.