Vocabulary
a system of fortified walls with a roadway along the top, constructed as a defense for China against invading armies.
It is one of the biggest structures ever made by humans.
Today it is a tourist attraction and a symbol of China.
What is the Great Wall of China?
Explain the relationship between:
Qin Shihuangdi
Terracotta Warriors
Qin Shihuangdi, the first emperor of China, ordered the creation of the Terracotta Warriors to guard him in the afterlife.
1. The _________________________ are the world's tallest mountain range and formed a natural barrier on China's western and southern borders, making invasion extremely difficult.
Himalayan Mountains
China's geographic features made it easier for them to trade and communicate with other civilizations.
False
Explanation: China's mountains, deserts, and rivers made it harder to trade and communicate with other civilizations because they acted as natural barriers.
How did China’s geographic features impact unification? Name at least one feature in your answer.
China’s geographic features made unification both easier and more difficult: features like the Himalayas and Gobi Desert acted as natural barriers that protected China from outside invasion, but they also limited contact with other regions, helping early rulers focus on unifying the land inside these boundaries.
a collection of clay sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.
It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting him in his afterlife.
What is the terracotta soldiers?
Explain the relationship between:
Emperor
Mandate of Heaven
A Chinese emperor ruled with the belief that he had the Mandate of Heaven, meaning divine approval to govern.
The _______ is a vast, harsh desert along China's northern border that acted as a natural barrier, making it very difficult for outside armies to invade
Gobi Desert
Chinese emperors used the Mandate of Heaven to explain that rulers deserved power because they were chosen by god.
True
How I know: Chinese emperors said they ruled because of the Mandate of Heaven, meaning heaven chose them to rule and could remove them if they were bad leaders.
What is the Mandate of Heaven? Who used it, and why?
The Mandate of Heaven was the belief that heaven gave rulers the right to govern, but would remove that right if they became cruel, corrupt, or failed to lead well.
It was used by Chinese emperors and dynasties (starting with the Zhou Dynasty) to justify their power and explain why they deserved to rule, especially when replacing an earlier dynasty.
They used it to show that their rule was approved by heaven and to explain why a dynasty could lose power if it ruled badly.
an idyllic, often imaginary past time of peace, prosperity, and happiness
What is the Golden Age?
Qin Dynasty
Unification
The Qin Dynasty is known for the unification of China under one centralized government in 221 BCE.
The __________ is a wide, flat, fertile region where China's earliest civilizations developed because its rich soil was ideal for growing crops.
North China Plain
The Zhou Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted only a few decades before being replaced by the Qin.
False
How I know: The Zhou Dynasty lasted over 800 years, making it the longest dynasty in Chinese history.
What is the civil service exam, and what was it used for?
The civil service exam was a test used in Han China to choose government workers based on knowledge, writing skills, and understanding of Confucian ideas.
It was used to select the most qualified men to work in the government, so officials were chosen for their abilities instead of their family wealth or social status.
A belief that people need strict laws and harsh punishments in order to maintain order in society.
Daoism
Laozi
Daoism is a philosophical and religious tradition based on the teachings of Laozi, its founder.
______________ is a philosophy based on Confucius's teachings that emphasized respect for elders, loyalty to rulers, strong family values, and the importance of education.
Confucianism
The Qin Dynasty's strict laws/harsh punishments were so unpopular that the dynasty lasted less than 50 years.
True
How I know: The Qin Dynasty had very strict laws and harsh punishments, which made people angry and helped cause the dynasty to collapse after about 15 years.
What is bureaucracy? What era did it start in, and how did it work?
Bureaucracy is a system of government in which trained officials (civil servants) make and carry out most of the important decisions instead of the ruler doing everything alone.
It began in China during the Han Dynasty and worked by having educated officials manage different parts of the government, such as taxes, laws, and public works, to keep the large empire organized and running smoothly.
longest-ruling dynasty of ancient China, which held power between 1046 and 256 BCE.
During this dynasty, China underwent major technological and cultural changes.
What is the Zhou Dynasty?
Han Dynasty
Bureaucracy
The Han Dynasty expanded and strengthened the Chinese bureaucracy to manage the large empire efficiently.
_____________ is a Chinese philosophy founded by Laozi that teaches people to live simply and in harmony with the natural world, avoiding conflict and seeking inner peace.
Daoism
Daoism and Confucianism were founded by the same philosopher and teach the same ideas about how people should live their lives.
False
How I know: Confucianism was founded by Confucius, while Daoism was founded by Laozi, and they teach different ideas about life and society.
What is one Chinese invention and why was it useful?
E.g.,
Silk was a valuable fabric made from silkworms, and it was important because it helped China trade with other civilizations along the Silk Road.
Gunpowder was an invention used in weapons and fireworks, and it later changed warfare around the world.