Random A
What are the alternate names for the Chang Jiang River and the Huang He River in China?
The Chang Jiang River is also called the Yangtze River, and the Huang He River is also called the Yellow River.
Who was a supreme god in early Chinese history that was believed to control success or failure in war, the harvest, the weather, and the overall well-being of China?
Shangdi
What world religion was introduced to China from India through trade routes during ancient history?
Buddhism
What material did the Shang Dynasty most commonly use to record their questions and answers from communications with their ancestors?
Bones
Why is Qin Shi Huangdi considered an important figure in world history?
He made standard currency, laws, roads, and writing to promote unity.
Why is the Huang He River, despite being an important water source for the ancient Chinese, sometimes called China’s Sorrow?
The river was known for terribly destructive floods that killed many people throughout history.
Why were oracle bones popular among early rulers in ancient China?
Oracle bones were used for guidance in making political and personal decisions.
According to Laozi and followers of Daoism, what type of person is the most likely to find happiness?
The person who is flexible and willing to go with the flow
A lack of written records and little archeological evidence causes many historians to question the existence of which dynasty?
Xia Dynasty
What is the translation for the name “Qin Shi Huangdi” that was used by Ying Zheng after he ended the Warring States Period?
First emperor of Qin
How did the geography of China affect civilization?
Travel and communication were difficult between the regions of China and natural barriers isolated it from other civilizations.
Why did many thinkers become concerned about the well-being of China and create new philosophies to share with others?
The Chinese states were fighting several civil wars, so the thinkers proposed ideas to improve the attitudes of the people and the effectiveness of the government.
Why did Qin Shi Huangdi order his people to build the Great Wall of China?
The Great Wall would defend China against invasion from the Xiongnu.
How did the Zhou Dynasty explain the transfer of the Mandate of Heaven between dynasties?
A dynasty would lose the Mandate of Heaven after it became corrupt with power and mistreated the people in favor of its own personal gain.
What was the cause of the Warring States Period?
The feudal system ended after several lords declared their independence and formed states that battled for territory.
Why were dragons important in Chinese culture and legends?
Dragons were thought of as powerful and kind creatures that brought life-giving rain to China.
What thinker believed that building strong relationships in the family and observing filial piety were necessary for an ethical and orderly society?
Confucius
Was the Great Wall actually a single wall that was made at one time in history?
No, the Great Wall is made up of several smaller walls that were built, repaired, and torn down over the centuries.
How did feudalism work during the Zhou Dynasty in ancient China?
Kings divided up their land among several wealthy individuals called lords, who were given the power to create their own states in exchange for loyalty, taxes, and supplying soldiers to the Zhou Dynasty. The lords would then give small amounts of land to many less wealthy farmers, who in exchange would grow crops on lords’ lands.
Why did Legalists such as Shang Yang, Han Feizi, and Qin Shi Huangdi believe that it was fair to govern with harsh punishments?
Legalists believed that people were selfish and would do wrong if it helped themselves.
How was Liu Bang, who started the Han Dynasty, different from the founders of other dynasties in ancient China?
He was an ordinary person who did not grow up in a royal family.
How did China create a monopoly and gain complete control over the production of silk without competition from other civilizations?
China created a monopoly on silk in global trade by keeping the production process secret and making it illegal to export silkworms or their eggs.
Why is Wu of Han considered an important figure in world history?
He was an emperor who opened the Silk Road and started the civil service exams.
What was exchanged along the Silk Road in addition to material goods?
The Silk Road increased the spread of knowledge, languages, religions, and diseases.
Why was the closure of the Silk Road a major turning point in world history?
Several European countries sent explorers to find alternate trade routes to Asia by sea.