Rulers and Government
This Chinese political theory claimed that the Emperor was chosen by the gods, but could lose his right to rule if he was bad or corrupt.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
This philosophy emphasizes respect for elders (filial piety) and was the foundation of Chinese government and family life.
What is Confucianism?
In Medieval China, if you wanted a job in the government, you had to pass a very difficult one of these.
What is a test/civil service exam?
These Japanese warriors served a lord and lived by a strict code of honor.
Who are the Samurai?
This network of trade routes connected China to the West, allowing goods like silk and ideas like Buddhism to spread.
What is the Silk Road?
He was the Mongol leader who united the nomadic tribes and created the largest land empire in history.
Who is Genghis Khan?
Originating in India, this religion traveled through China and Korea to reach Japan, teaching that life is suffering and the goal is enlightenment.
What is Buddhism?
Students studying for the Civil Service Exam had to memorize the writings of this famous teacher.
Who is Confucius?
The "Way of the Warrior," or the strict code of behavior that Samurai followed, emphasizing loyalty and bravery.
What is Bushido?
This country acts as a peninsula "bridge" between China and Japan, helping Chinese ideas (like writing and government) flow into Japan.
What is Korea?
This Mongol ruler conquered China and started the Yuan Dynasty, proving that foreigners could rule China.
Who is Kublai Khan? (Ghengis Khan's grandson)
This native Japanese religion focuses on nature spirits called "Kami" and does not have a single holy book.
What is Shinto?
Because of the exams, people were hired based on their skills and ability, rather than just being born into a rich family. This system is called a __________.
What is a Meritocracy?
The Mongols were famous for their deadly skill at riding horses while using this weapon.
What is the bow and arrow?
Invented in China, this technology allowed books to be printed much faster, helping more people learn to read.
What is Woodblock Printing (or Movable Type)?
In Medieval Japan, the Emperor was a figurehead, but this military commander held the real power.
What is the Shogun?
This version of Buddhism became very popular with Japanese Samurai because it focused on discipline and meditation.
What is Zen Buddhism?
This social class of people—who were not nobles but gained power by passing the exams—ran the Chinese government.
What are scholar-officials?
The Mongols tried to invade Japan twice but were stopped by these "Divine Winds," or typhoons.
What are the Kamikaze?
While China is famous for porcelain, Medieval Korea became famous for this specific type of green-blue pottery.
What is Celadon?
During the Yuan Dynasty, the Mongol rulers did not trust the Chinese scholar-officials, so they suspended the Civil Service Exam and gave high government jobs to these people instead.
Who are foreigners (Mongols/non-Chinese)?
In the Song Dynasty, scholars worried that Buddhism was becoming too powerful, so they created this new philosophy that mixed traditional Confucian rules with Buddhist spiritual ideas.
What is Neo-Confucianism?
While the Civil Service Exam found the best writers and philosophers, it was often criticized because it did not test candidates on these practical subjects needed to run an empire (like building bridges or counting money).
What are Math, Science, or Engineering (technology)?
Even though the Mongols were known for destruction, their unified rule created a time of safety and stability that allowed trade to flourish along the Silk Road, known as the __________.
What is Pax Mongolica (or The Mongol Peace)?
Japan learned a lot from China, but they rejected the Civil Service Exam because they believed power should be inherited, not earned. This process of picking and choosing which ideas to adopt is called __________.
What is Selective Borrowing?