3rd quarter exam *sigh*

Dynasties

Families that pass the right to rule the nation from one generation to the next. The dynasties in order are Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han.

Emperor

An emperor is a monarch who rules over an empire, typically achieved through military conquest or inheritance, and often considered to hold supreme authority and power.

Aryans

Migrated into the area and conquered local peoples. Developed superior weaponry and technology. Present in Xia dynasty.

Xia

First dynasty ruled China from around 2100 B.C.E. until around 1800 B.C.E. Many historians however do not consider it a true dynasty.

Shang

Often considered the first true dynasty, and ruled China from around 1500 B.C.E. until 1100 B.C.E. thirty separate kings ruled from a succession of seven different capitals. Invention of writing came from this period.

Zhou

Defeated and overthrew the Shang dynasty. Was the longest lasting dynasty that ruled for 800 years. They maintained control over the people effectively and set up a new economy, rearranging the affairs in the kingdom. Also hired noblemen and they grew in power.

Qin

The Zhou dynasty got overthrown by a guy named Qin. Lasted only 11 years and reorganized the affairs of China by making a centralized government (gave him more power.) Strengthened the military and built the great wall of china, also helped develop more writing structure.

Han

Ruled China for 400 years and were one of the wealthiest and powerful dynasties on earth. Practiced a lot of exploration, trade, and invented many things.

Mandate of Heaven

The right to rule a nation through god/heavens. If you do a bad job ruling you get punished.

Great Wall of China

Built during the Qin dynasty to protect the land and make invasion harder to achieve and control who got in and out of the territory.

Calligraphy

The art of writing Chinese characters in an artistic way.

Confucianism

A philosophy and religious belief system based on the teachings of Confucius.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes connecting ancient China to the rest of the world.

Daoism

A Chinese philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing the natural order of things.

The Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths are a fundamental teaching of Buddhism, which explain the nature of suffering, its causes, the possibility of its cessation, and the path towards the cessation of suffering through the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path

A set of principles in Buddhism that lays out the steps to achieve enlightenment and end suffering, including right understanding, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and concentration.

Buddhism

A religion and philosophy originating from ancient India which spread into ancient China.

Pax Sinica

Pax Sinica refers to a period of peace, stability, and cultural and economic prosperity during the Han dynasty of China, marked by expanded trade networks, infrastructure development, and advances in technology and art.

Laozi

A Chinese philosopher and the author of the Tao Te Ching, a seminal work in Taoist philosophy that advocates living in harmony with the Tao, or the natural order of the universe.

Qin Shihuangd

The person who ruled the Qin dynasty, considered the first emperor.

Ghana

300-1000 AD

The first West African kingdom that controlled the trans-saharan gold and salt trade

Leader: King Tenkamenin

Mali

1200-1600 AD

As Ghana declined in the 1200’s AD, this kingdom gained power.

• Replaced Ghana as main trading kingdom

• Controlled the gold and salt trade.

• Profited greatly from the slave trade.

  • Leaders: Sundiata Keita, Mansa Musa

• Has city Timbuktu

Songhai

* 1400-1600 AD
* Largest of the 3 major western african empires
* Leaders: Sunni Ali and Askia the Great
* Controlled salt and gold mines. Also traded fish.
* Expanded trade to Europe and Asia, time of great cultural diffusion
* Were eventually taken by the Moroccans, and their economy never recovered

Bantu

a group of African ethnic and linguistic groups who migrated and settled in southern and central Africa, influencing the region's culture and language.

Askia Muhammad

a powerful ruler of the Songhai Empire known for his administrative and military reforms.

Mansa Musa

a famous ruler of the Mali Empire who is known for his pilgrimage to Mecca and his promotion of Islamic scholarship and trade.

Sundiata Keita

a 13th- century west African ruler who founded the mali empire.

Timbuktu

a city in Mali that became a major center of Islamic scholarship, trade, and culture in the medieval period.

Cultural diffusion

the spread and exchange of cultural practices, beliefs, ideas, and technologies between different societies and regions.

How did economic problems lead to the decline of the Han?

Economic problems such as government corruption, overtaxation, and peasant uprisings contributed to the decline of the Han Dynasty.

How did silk influence China’s government, economy and culture during the Han period? 

Silk production and trade played a significant role in the Han Dynasty's economy, culture, and political power, as it provided a major source of revenue, fostered international trade, and became a symbol of social status and luxury.

Under the Chinese civil- service system, who could become government officials?

Under the Chinese civil-service system, individuals who passed a rigorous examination system, regardless of their social status or background, could become government officials.

Why was Wudi one of China’s most significant rulers? Explain

Wudi was one of China's most significant rulers due to his many achievements, including expanding the empire's territory, establishing Confucianism as the state ideology, creating a more centralized bureaucracy, implementing economic and agricultural reforms, and promoting cultural and intellectual advancements.

What were the most important accomplishments of the Mongol Empire? 

The most important accomplishments of the Mongol Empire include establishing the largest land empire in history, promoting international trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road, fostering religious tolerance and supporting the spread of Buddhism and Islam, and creating a centralized administration system that influenced later empires.

Why is Genghis Khan remembered as one of the great Khans?

Genghis Khan is remembered as one of the great Khans due to his exceptional military leadership and tactics, his ability to unite the Mongol tribes, his expansion of the Mongol Empire to become the largest land empire in history, and his influence on later empires and world history.

What happened to the Mongol Empire in the years after Genghis Khan death? 

In the years after Genghis Khan's death, the Mongol Empire continued to expand under the rule of his successors, with notable conquests including China, Russia, and parts of Eastern Europe. However, internal conflicts, the spread of the Black Death, and overextension eventually led to the empire's fragmentation and decline.

How did Europeans view Marco Polo’s account of his time in China?

Europeans initially viewed Marco Polo's account of his time in China with skepticism, as many found it difficult to believe his descriptions of the wealth, culture, and technological advancements of the Chinese. However, his book "The Travels of Marco Polo" became increasingly popular and influential in Europe, and played a role in shaping European perceptions of Asia and inspiring further exploration and trade.

Explain how Kublai Khan treated his Chinese subjects?

Kublai Khan generally treated his Chinese subjects with tolerance and respect, allowing them to retain their cultural traditions and employing them in government positions while also promoting Mongol cultural and administrative practices.

How did Kublai Khan encourage trade?

Kublai Khan encouraged trade by promoting the construction of infrastructure such as roads and canals, issuing paper money to facilitate commerce, and establishing the Mongol Empire as a secure and stable trading hub between Europe and Asia.

Great Zimbabwe

* 200-1450 AD
*  Leaders: unknown
* Made money from being the Middleman and making profit on sales
*  Traded gold and ivory
* Theory is… ended due to overused land, moved to find more food