Geography
The river where early Chinese civilization developed is named after this color.
Yellow River
This type of artifact proved the Shang dynasty wasn’t just a legend.
oracle bones
The Zhou introduced this idea, which gave rulers the right to rule as long as they governed justly.
Mandate of Heaven
Qin Shihuangdi is most famous for commissioning this massive tomb feature.
Terracotta Army
The Han dynasty followed this philosophy, emphasizing meritocracy in government.
Confucianism
This material was China’s most sought-after export during the Han dynasty.
silk
This desert is one of the largest in the world and significantly isolated ancient China.
Taklimakan Desert
Oracle bones were used to communicate with these.
ancestors
This period of chaos followed the Zhou dynasty and inspired Chinese philosophies.
Period of Warring States
This iconic structure was expanded during the Qin dynasty to protect against invasions.
Great Wall of China
The rule of the Han Dynasty kicked off this type of time period of prosperity and development in China.
“Golden Age”
This empire in Europe was at the westernmost point of the Silk Road.
Roman Empire
The Tibetan Plateau is home to these mountains, the tallest in the world.
Himalayas
This part of the dynastic cycle led to revolution and the fall of the Shang dynasty.
Corruption and overspending
This belief system, founded by Confucius, emphasized respect for elders and proper behavior.
Confucianism
Qin Shihuangdi’s rule was guided by this philosophy, which relied on strict laws and harsh punishments.
Legalism
The Han dynasty established this trade route connecting China to Europe.
Silk Road
Only these types of goods were typically traded on the Silk Road, due to the expense and danger of the journey.
luxury goods
This arid desert, located in northern China, borders the Mongolian steppe.
Gobi Desert
Besides horses, the Shang used these animals in war.
elephants
This philosophy encourages a simple life in harmony with nature and teaches about yin and yang.
Daoism
This controversial act by Qin Shihuangdi was intended to suppress dissenting ideas.
book burning
Han innovations included tools for this type of mining, crucial for food preservation.
salt mining
The Silk Road spanned approximately this many miles, connecting East Asia to Europe.
4,000 miles
Early China’s geography, including mountains and deserts, made achieving this difficult.
political unity
The Shang dynasty fell due to overspending and corruption. This state rose up and overthrew them.
Zhou
Legalism was the guiding philosophy of this dynasty that succeeded the Zhou.
Qin
Qin Shihuangdi is known for doing this for the empire, making trade and governance more efficient.
Standardizing writing, weights, and measures
This invention, developed during the Han dynasty, was used to detect and track natural disasters.
seismograph
Along with goods, the Silk Road facilitated the exchange of these intangible things.
ideas / cultures