Chinese Dynasties and Imperial History Flashcards

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Xia Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 1994 BCE - 1766 BCE.

Shang Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 1766 BCE - 1027 BCE.

Zhou Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 1122 BCE - 256 BCE.

Period of warring states

An era in Chinese history spanning 475 BCE - 221 BCE.

Quin Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 221 BCE - 206 BCE.

Han Dynasty

The dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE) during which Confucianism became the state ideology, civil service exams were introduced, Silk Road trade with Rome occurred, and a merit-based bureaucracy was established.

Civil service exam

A testing system established under the Han Dynasty to build a bureaucracy based on merit, later restored in subsequent dynasties.

Silk road trade with Rome

Commercial trade connections established during the Han Dynasty linking China with Rome.

Mandate of heaven

A key political concept integrated into state ideology during the Han Dynasty.

Period of Disunion

Also known as the 3 kingdoms (220 CE - 589 CE), during which bureaucracy collapsed, Buddhism gained followers and replaced Confucianism, and non-Chinese nomads controlled most Chinese territory.

3 kingdoms

An alternate name for the Period of Disunion (220 CE - 589 CE).

Non-Chinese nomads (Period of Disunion)

Nomadic groups that controlled most Chinese territory during the Period of Disunion.

Sui Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 589 CE - 619 CE that was big on Buddhism, brought scholar-gentry back into administration, and managed expensive construction projects like canals and roads.

Scholar-gentry

Class of educated administrators brought back into government administration during the Sui Dynasty.

Sui Dynasty construction projects

Expensive state development projects consisting of canals and roads created under the Sui Dynasty.

Tang Dynasty

The dynasty (619 CE - 907 CE) whose armies extended to Afghanistan, repaired the Great Wall, assimilated Turkic nomads into the military, and rebuilt the bureaucracy.

Turkic nomads

Nomadic people assimilated into the military under the Tang Dynasty.

Tang Dynasty examination system

Restored testing system under the Tang Dynasty in which some commoners could rise in social status, though it was rare.

Shared political authority (Tang Dynasty)

Governance structure during the Tang Dynasty where political authority was shared by imperial families and scholarly bureaucrats.

Tang Dynasty opposition to Buddhism

Movement where Confucians and Daoists opposed Buddhist growth, leading to open persecution and the re-emergence of Confucianism as China's central ideology.

Daoists

Group that, along with Confucians, opposed the growth of Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty.

An Lushan Rebellion

A major rebellion in 755 CE that occurred during the decline of the Tang Dynasty amid worsening economic conditions.

Tang Dynasty decline factors

Deterioration caused by weak leadership, nomadic frontier peoples gaining influence, and worsening economic conditions leading to revolts and the An Lushan Rebellion.

Song Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 960 CE - 1279 CE characterized by the return of Confucius values, Neo-confucianism, and footbinding for upper class women.

Neo-confucianism

Ideology under the Song Dynasty that emphasizes high morality, hostility to foreigners, and stress on tradition, while borrowing ideas from Taoism and Buddhism.

Footbinding

A practice during the Song Dynasty performed on upper class women.

Song Dynasty political legacy

A weak legacy marked by failure to defeat border nomads, rendering the Song politically and militarily weaker than the Tang.

Jin

A border enemy of the Song Dynasty that contributed to its vulnerability and decline.

Mongols (Song Dynasty context)

Border enemies who eventually invaded and defeated the Song Dynasty.

Impact of Neo-Confucianism on Song military

An ideological shift during the Song Dynasty that weakened the military.

Song Dynasty decline factors

Downfall brought about by enemies on the border (Jin and Mongols), Neo-Confucianism weakening the military, poor leadership, and ultimate invasion by the Mongols.

Grand Canal

A major waterway constructed and utilized during the Tang and Song periods alongside other canals.

Tang and Song commercial expansion

Economic growth driven by trade along the silk road and maritime trade.

Maritime trade

Sea-based trade routes that expanded during the Tang and Song dynasties alongside the silk road.

Tang and Song agricultural production

Farming productivity that increased significantly during the Tang and Song eras.

Tang and Song family structure

Social arrangement characterized by male dominated households.

Status of women (Tang and Song)

Social condition of female population that experienced deterioration during the Tang and Song dynasties.

Tang and Song technological innovations

Advancements including tools, weapons, paper money, compass, and paper printing.

Paper money

A financial technology introduced as part of the technological advancements of the Tang and Song dynasties.

Compass

A navigational device invented/utilized as part of Tang and Song technological progress.

Paper printing

A key technology developed during the Tang and Song dynasties for reproducing text.

Tang and Song artistic expression

Cultural achievements prominent during the Tang and Song dynasties, specifically artwork and poetry.

Re-established bureaucracy

Administrative government system brought back and summarized across the Tang and Song periods.

Yuan [mongol] Dynasty

The Mongol-ruled Chinese dynasty spanning 1279 CE - 1368 CE.

Ming Dynasty

The Chinese dynasty spanning 1368 CE - 1644 CE.

Qing [Manchu] Dynasty

The Manchu-ruled Chinese dynasty spanning 1644 CE - 1912 CE.

Republic

The period in Chinese governance spanning 1912 CE - 1949 CE.

Mao Zedong

Chinese leader whose era of rule spanned 1949 CE - 1976 CE.

Afghanistan (Tang expansion)

Region to which the military armies of the Tang Dynasty extended.

Great wall

Defensive structure that was repaired under the Tang Dynasty.