China unit

Great Wall

public works project whose purpose was to defend the empire from northern nomads

rebellion

when citizens of a country fight back against a government they feel has become corrupt

standardize

to set rules that make aspects of daily life more similar for everyone

silk

strong, smooth cloth made from material that comes from earthworms; it became one of China's major exports

silk road

network of trade routes that crossed Asia and reached as far away as Europe and Mesopotamia

acupuncture

a type of therapy created by the Han that uses needles to cure sickness and to stop pain

Wudi

Han emperor who wanted to strengthen government and made Confucianism official policy in China

Shi Huangdi

"the first emperor" of the Qin Dynasty, he unified China following the Warring States Period

Liu Bang

the first ruler of the Han dynasty, he was a peasant who rose to become emperor after the fall of the Qin

Buddhism

this is the major religion of China but actually began in India with Siddhartha Gautama and was brought to China via the Silk Road

Confucianism

this philosophy stresses morals, ethics, and the proper understanding of relationships and respect for elders

merchants

these people were not valued in the Han social system because they did not produce anything useful to the rest of society

Zhou Dynasty

(1050BC-400BC) Longest dynasty in Chinese history. They justified rebellion against the Shang through the "mandate of heaven"

Qin Dynasty

this short-lived dynasty is where "China" got its name. The Qin unified the region that would become China.

Shang Dynasty

the first Chinese dynasty; they are known for establishing the first writing system in China on "oracle bones"

Oracle Bones

The earliest known Chinese writing is found on these from ritual activity of the Shang period.

Huang He River

also called the Yellow River, this northern plain produces wheat, millet, and other cereals

Chang Jiang River

This is the longest river in China also called the Yangzi River, this southern plain produces rice

Dynasty

a powerful family or group of rulers that maintains its position or power for some time

Daoism

philosophical system in China advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events

Laozi

Founder of Daoism

Yin and Yang

the Daoist concept of the balance of opposing forces of nature

Warring States Period

time of warfare between regional lords following the decline of the Zhou dynasty in the 8th century B.C.E.

bronze

a mixture of copper and tin

sundial

uses the position of shadows cast by the sun to tell the time of day

Seismograph

a device that measures the strength of an earthquake

Han Dynasty

Dynasty started by Lui Bang; it discarded the harsh policies of the Qin dynasty and adopted Confucian principles; during this time Chinese advancements like paper, the sundial, and seismograph were invented

Confucius

a Chinese philosopher known for his ideas and teachings on proper behavior, such as respect for elders, obedience, and setting good examples

loess

the fertile, yellowish soil that blows into the Yellow River and gives it that name