Buddhism and Hinduism
This term refers to the belief in being reborn into a new body after death, a concept shared by both Hinduism and Buddhism.
What is Reincarnation?
This belief system, which focuses on respect for elders, education, and social order, became the foundation for the Han government.
What is Confucianism?
This geographic feature to the southwest of China is the tallest mountain range in the world and acted as a natural barrier.
What are the Himalayas?
This Mauryan Emperor turned to Buddhism and nonviolence after witnessing the suffering caused by his violent wars.
Who is Ashoka?
This term describes the spread of ideas, such as religion or technology, from one region to another.
What is diffusion?
In Buddhism, this is the state of perfect understanding that ends the cycle of suffering and rebirth.
The Han Dynasty is often referred to by this term because it was a period of great peace, prosperity, and cultural achievement.
What is a Golden Age?
This trade network connected China to other regions, allowing for the exchange of goods like silk and the spread of ideas like Buddhism.
What is the Silk Road?
Ashoka promoted moral behavior and kindness by carving messages into these objects across his empire.
What are stone pillars? (or edicts)
These individuals traveled long distances to meditate and teach, playing a major role in spreading Buddhism across Asia.
What are Buddhism Monks? (or missionaries)
This Buddhist concept teaches that the primary cause of human suffering is desire or wanting things.
What is the Four Noble Truths? (Truth of suffering)
This Han invention made record-keeping easier and helped the government spread knowledge across the empire.
What is paper?
The Yellow River earned this nickname because of its history of sudden and deadly floods.
What is "China's sorrow"?
This dynasty unified China in 221 BCE using strict laws and hard punishments.
What is the Qin dynasty?
This primary "luxury good" was so valuable that it became the namesake for the major trade route connecting China to the West.
What is Silk?
What is the term in Hinduism for one's "duty" in life that determines their status in the next life?
What is Dharma?
Under the Han, government jobs were not given to family members but were assigned based on skill and knowledge, a system known as this.
What is merit? Or Civil Service
This "fine, fertile soil" found in northern China was easy to farm and helped support early populations.
What is loess?
The Qin Dynasty followed this philosophy, which teaches that people are naturally bad and need strict control to maintain order.
What is legalism?
This holy text discusses guidelines and duties for those who follow the religion of Islam to implement in their daily lives.
What is the Qur'an
Unlike many other religions of the time, Buddhism was particularly appealing to people of lower social classes for this reason.
Why is it open to all social classes/not tied to wealth or status?
This complex system of trained officials helped the Han emperor manage laws, collect taxes, and keep records.
What is a bureaucracy?
These three types of natural barriers made invasions of ancient China rare and helped dynasties stay in power longer.
What are mountains, deserts, and oceans?
This Chinese belief suggests that a ruler has divine approval to lead, but can lose it if they govern poorly.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
This Chinese philosophy teaches that people should stop striving for power or wealth and instead live in harmony with the natural flow of the universe.
What is Daoism?