Pre-AP World - Chapter 8 Vocabulary List Review

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 8 of Pre-AP World.

Warring States Period

Turbulent time period between Zhou and Qin marked by civil war and disunity (403 BCE – 221 BCE).

Era of Division

Turbulent time period between Han and Sui marked by civil war and disunity (221 -589 CE).

Sui Dynasty

First politically centralized dynasty following the fall of Han and Era of Division (581 – 618 CE).

Li Yuan

Duke of Tang, first Tang emperor in 618 CE.

Tang Dynasty

Politically centralized powerful medieval Chinese dynasty following collapse of the Sui; capital at Chang’an (618 – 907 CE).

Chang’an

Capital city of Han, Sui and Tang dynasties.

Tang Taizong

Tang ruler known for the empire’s expansion.

scholar-gentry

Educated, upper-class elite who worked for the government in China.

civil service exam system

Examinations based on Confucianism needed to be passed to obtain a government job.

tributary system

Process through which China forced less powerful kingdoms/tribes into a subservient relationship.

the “Middle Kingdom”

Nickname for China reflecting the belief that China was in the center of the universe.

kowtow

Ceremonial ritual that tributary delegations had to perform while presenting tribute to the Chinese emperor.

equal-field system

Land redistribution system begun by the Tang to limit the power of aristocratic land-owning families.

Grand Canal

1100 mile, man-made waterway linking the Yangtze and Huang He rivers for trade and transportation.

Li Bo

Tang dynasty poet known for writings that reflected a free spirit and love of nature.

Du Fu

Tang dynasty poet concerned with social justice.

Chan (Zen)

Buddhism sect developed in East Asia, with a strong emphasis on meditation.

Uighurs

Nomadic Turkish people who helped the Tang emperor put down rebellions in the 750s.

Song Dynasty

Politically centralized, powerful medieval Chinese dynasty following the collapse of the Tang (960 – 1279 CE).

Khitan

Pastoral nomads who set up the Liao Empire in China’s northern frontier.

Minyak

Pastoral nomads who established the Xi Xia Empire in China’s western lands.

Jurchen

Northern nomadic group who forced the Song into a reverse tributary relationship.

Kaifeng

Original capital city of the Song dynasty, given up after invasion by the Jurchen.

Neo-Confucianism

New interpretation of Confucianism developed in the Middle Ages, based on teachings of Mencius and Buddhism.

Mencius

Confucian contemporary scholar who combined Buddhism and Confucianism (370 BCE – 290 BCE).

Wu Zhao

Female Tang empress who legitimized her rule by claiming to be an incarnation of Buddha.

foot-binding

Process of breaking and binding young girls' feet to produce a socially desired look, becoming a status symbol for the upper class.

Li Qingzhao

Song dynasty female poet.

“The Three Kingdoms”

Three political organizations of early Korea – Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla.

Silla Dynasty

First politically unified Korean dynasty.

Koryo Dynasty

Second politically unified Korean dynasty.

celadon

Green-glazed porcelain that became a highly valued art form in Korea.

Viets

Early agricultural settlers in the Red River delta of modern Vietnam.

Shintoism

Japanese indigenous religion based on spirits in nature known as the kami.

kami

Polytheistic Shinto gods and goddesses.

Fujiwara family

Medieval shogunate family who ruled Japan during the Heian Era (794-1185 CE).

Nara & Kyoto

Capitals of Japan during the Heian Era, ruled over by the Fujiwara Shogunate.

Heian Era

Rule of the Fujiwara Shogunate in Japan (794-1185 CE).

The Tale of Genji

Novel written by Murasaki Shikibu, a fictional tale loosely based on the Fujiwara clan.

Minamoto family

Second medieval shogunate family who ruled after the collapse of the Fujiwara.

shogun

Supreme military ruler who held most semi-centralized political authority.

bakufu

“Tent”/military government run by a shogun; the emperor has no real political power.

samurai

Japanese warriors who protect the daimyo (local warlord families) and owed loyalty to the shogun.

Todaji Temple

Buddhist temple built near Nara, known as the largest wooden building built in history.

bushido code

Code of conduct followed by Japanese samurai warriors, involving piety, respect for the enemy, and ritual suicide.

seppuku

Ritual suicide performed by a samurai warrior who broke the Bushido code, to atone for his sins.