Geography
What major river is known as the "Cradle of Chinese Civilization"?
The Yellow River
What was one major achievement of the Shang Dynasty?
The development of writing using oracle bones.
Which philosophy emphasized respect, education, and moral behavior in society?
Confucianism
What material invented in Ancient China replaced bamboo and silk for writing?
Paper
What is the name of the massive palace complex in Beijing that was once home to emperors and is now a museum?
The Forbidden City
Which desert in northern China helped protect the region from invasions?
The Gobi Desert
Which dynasty built the first version of the Great Wall?
The Qin Dynasty
Daoism teaches that people should live in harmony with what natural force?
The Dao or "The Way"
What invention helped Ancient Chinese sailors navigate long distances?
The compass
What traditional Chinese medical practice, developed thousands of years ago, is still used today to treat pain and illness?
Acupuncture
What mountain range separates China from South Asia?
The Himalayas
What type of government did the Zhou Dynasty use to manage its large territory?
A feudal system.
How did Legalism differ from Confucianism in its view of human nature?
Legalism believed people were naturally selfish and needed strict laws, while Confucianism believed people could be taught to be good.
How did the invention of gunpowder change both Chinese culture and global history?
It was used in fireworks for celebrations and later in weapons, influencing warfare worldwide.
What landmark appears on the back of China’s 20-yuan banknote and is famous for its scenic karst mountains and river views?
What is the Li River near Xingping?
How did geography help Ancient China develop a unique culture?
Because natural barriers like mountains and deserts isolated it from other civilizations
Which dynasty unified China and standardized writing, currency, and measurements?
The Qin Dynasty
What are the Five Relationships and how do they reflect Confucian values?
father son, ruler subject, husband and wife, older sibling and younger sibling, friend and friend
What invention allowed Ancient Chinese astronomers to track time and celestial movements more accurately?
The water clock or star chart.
What legacy did the civil service exams of Ancient China leave on modern governments?
They introduced the idea of merit-based government jobs, influencing modern bureaucracies and public service systems.
Name two geographic features that influenced settlement and agriculture in Ancient China.
Rivers (Yellow and Yangtze) and fertile plains, loess deposits
What was the purpose of the Terracotta Army built during the Qin Dynasty? AND what is the name of the Emperor who ordered their construction?
To protect Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.
Compare how Daoism and Confucianism would approach solving conflict in society.
Daoism would encourage withdrawal and harmony with nature, while Confucianism would promote ethical behavior and social roles to restore order.
Explain how the Silk Road was both an innovation and a legacy of Ancient China.
It was a network of trade routes that spread Chinese inventions, goods, and ideas across continents, shaping global history.
n what ways has Ancient Chinese culture—such as art, architecture, philosophy, and technology—shaped modern global society?
Through contributions like calligraphy, traditional medicine, Confucian ethics, inventions like the compass and gunpowder, and architectural styles seen in temples and gardens around the world.