Philosophies of Power
This philosophy emphasizes morality, duty, filial piety, and living in "right relationships"
What is Confucianism
This Chinese concept claims that gods grant rulers the authority to govern as long as they remain just.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
Made using plants and silk rags during the Han Dynasty, this invention revolutionized communication and record-keeping.
What is paper?
Emperor Qin Shi Huang connected and rebuilt earlier defensive walls across the north to stop raids from nomadic tribes. What is this massive structure called?
What is the Great Wall of China?
This overland network of trade routes connected ancient China to Rome, spreading goods, culture, and technology.
What is the Silk Road?
Founded by Lao Tzu, this philosophy advocates for living in harmony with nature and embracing simplicity.
What is Daoism / Taoism
This recurring historical pattern describes the rise, peak, decline, fall, and replacement of ruling families in China.
What is the Dynastic Cycle?
To make trading easier, the Qin Dynasty made all money the same. What was the shape of the official bronze coin used across China?
What is round with a square hole in the middle?
Built at Mount Lishan, this underground necropolis contains over 8,000 unique life-sized figures to protect the First Emperor in the afterlife.
What is the Terracotta Army / Tomb of Qin Shi Huang?
This key Confucian value demands respect for parents, elders, and superiors.
What is Filial Piety?
Adopted by the Qin Dynasty, this harsh philosophy relies on strict laws, absolute state control, and severe punishments.
What is Legalism
Overthrowing the previous dynasty is justified when bad rulers lose divine approval, often signified by these natural occurrences.
What are natural disasters / floods / famines / invasions?
Chinese doctors invented a way to relieve pain and heal sick people by poking sharp needles into body pressure points. What is this medical practice called?
What is acupuncture?
According to ancient history, what silver liquid did Qin Shi Huang drink because he thought it would lead to immortality?
What is mercury?
The Han Dynasty established these rigorous tests based on Confucian texts to ensure government officials were qualified.
What are Civil Service Exams?
Legalism believed in strict rules. Under Legalism in the Qin Dynasty, what happened to people if someone in their group committed a crime and they did not report it?
(What is they were punished the same as the criminal? (or What is collective punishment)
The Zhou Dynasty overthrew this previous ruling dynasty around 1046 BCE, claiming its final king was evil.
What is the Shang Dynasty?
The Han combined iron into this stronger metal alloy to craft better weapons, tools, and structures.
What is steel?
Why did the Qin Dynasty require all cart axles to be the same width?
What is so wheels fit perfectly into the existing rut patterns?
This agency within the Han government audited budgets and reviewed laws specifically to monitor the emperor's power and prevent corruption.
What is the Censorate?
In 213 BCE, Qin Chancellor Li Si ordered this event to suppress political criticism from history scholars.
What is the Burning of Books / buried Confucian scholars?)
After the civil war following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, this leader established the Han Dynasty, claiming the divine mandate.
Who is Liu Bang?
To unify China physically, the Qin Dynasty constructed a massive road network spanning over this total distance.
What is over 4,000 miles?
To commune with immortals and avoid assassination, the First Emperor moved through these hidden structural features.
What are secret underground tunnels and secret palaces?
This non-elected administrative organization system structures defined roles and hierarchies to manage large governments.
What is a bureaucracy?