Ancient China

millet

a plant that

people grow for its grain

nomad

a member of a

group that has no fixed

home and moves from

place to place with the

seasons

favor

support or

approval

mandate

an official

order or command

Gobi Desert

Located in north central China. 2nd largest desert in the world. extreme temperature.

Chang Jiang

(Yangtze River) the longest river in Asia, flowing about 3,400 miles from central China to the Yellow Sea

Hwang He

Also means the yellow river, it is a river in China named for the vast quantities of yellow silt it carries to its delta. Known as the birthplace of Chinese civilization, its river banks provide fertile soil that is often washed away in floods.

Shang Dynasty

1st dynasty 1500's BC Ruled in Northern China. Social order became more organized under rule. Known for jade and oracle bones.

oracle bones

animal bones carved with written characters which were used for telling the future

pictographs

pictures that stand for words or ideas; picture writing

Zhou Dynasty

2nd dynasty. Lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese History.

Mandate of Heaven

An ancient Chinese belief and philosophical idea that heaven granted emperors the right to rule based on their ability to govern well and fairly. If the emperor does not fulfill his obligations then he loses the Mandate and therefore the right to be emperor.

dynastic cycle

rise and fall of Chinese dynasties according to the Mandate of Heaven

philosophy

study of basic truths and ideas

Legalism

a philosophy stressing the strict use of laws to control behavior-make people afraid to do wrong

Confucianism

a philosophy that teaches respect for others will result in peace

Daoism

a philosophy with a belief in learning to live in harmony with nature and inner feelings

yin

black: cold, dark and mysterious

yang

white: warm and bright

Qin Dynasty

the Chinese dynasty (from 246 BC to 206 BC) ruled by Shi Huangdi who unified China, built the Great Wall of China, and created the Teracotta Army for the afterlife.

Shi Huangdi

founder of the Qin dynasty and China's first emperor

Teracotta Army

life size soldiers Shi Huangdi built to protect him in his after-life

Great Wall of China

A huge wall that is over 6000 miles, which was built to keep the Mongolians in the north out of China.

Han Dynasty

imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries. Led by Liu Bang, who was a less harsh leader.

Liu Bang

the founder of the Han dynasty