Geography
What two rivers supported early Chinese civilization?
Huang He (Yellow River) and Yangtze River
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
The belief that Heaven gave emperors the right to rule.
What was the Great Wall built to do?
Protect China from northern invaders.
What was China’s first dynasty?
Shang Dynasty
What crop was most important in southern China?
Rice
Why was the Huang He called the “River of Sorrows”?
Its floods destroyed homes and crops.
Who founded Confucianism?
Confucius
What material was used to make early tools and art?
Bronze and jade
Which dynasty introduced the Mandate of Heaven?
Zhou Dynasty
What goods were traded along the Silk Road?
Silk, jade, spices, porcelain
What natural barriers isolated China from other civilizations?
Himalayas, Gobi Desert, Pacific Ocean
Which philosophy believed in living in harmony with nature?
Daoism (Taoism)
What kind of writing did the Shang dynasty use?
Oracle bones
Who united China under one rule and began the Qin Dynasty?
Qin Shi Huangdi
What was one danger of traveling the Silk Road?
Bandits and deserts
How did the rivers help unify Ancient China?
They provided transportation and farming connection.
How did Legalism maintain order?
Through strict laws and harsh punishments.
What invention helped farmers produce more crops?
Iron plows and irrigation systems
What system of government gave land to nobles in exchange for loyalty?
Feudalism
Why were merchants wealthy but low in social status?
They didn’t produce goods themselves.
How did geography both help and hurt China’s development?
Protected from invaders but limited early trade and contact.
Which philosophy focused on moral behavior and respect?
Confucianism
How did standardization under Qin Shi Huangdi help unify China?
Made currency, laws, and measurements the same across the empire.
Why did dynasties rise and fall in Ancient China?
They gained or lost the Mandate of Heaven depending on how well they ruled.
How did trade connect China to the rest of the world?
It linked China to India, the Middle East, and Europe.