Ancient China Flashcards
(84 cards)
Was it easy or hard for the people of China to make contact with people from other civilizations?
No, because the geographical features acted as natural barriers and China was very isolated.
What was the climate In the south?
Warm and wet because of monsoons from the sea that brought rain
What is the climate in the north?
Dry because the rain from the monsoons doesn’t reach, and it rarely rains
What major river flows through the northern part of china??
Huang he river
Why is China called the middle kingdom??
China was so isolated that they thought the nomadic people were the only other civilizations. They also believed that they lived in the center of the world so they called themselves the “Middle Kingdom”
Where did civilization start?
Civilization began along the Huang He or Yellow river because if it’s dirty water, and relied on the river for farming.
How did china’s geography affect its development?
When the rivers would flood it would deposit silt that made the land ideal for farming.
What are china’s major rivers??
Yellow River and Chang Jiang, also known as the yangtze.
In which river valley did china’s civilization begin??
The yellow river (Huang he)
Why were China’s river valleys ideal for farming?
They flooded which deposited fertile silt.
How did the Shang dynasty rise to power??
The Shang were able to overthrow the xia lords by creating a unique military style that used an infantry to attack their enemy. They also were armed with a variety of weapons like bronze and stone, used horses to attack, which made them hard to defeat.
What are some Shang dynasty achievements??
Glazed pottery, system of writing, and a 365-day calendar.
After the Shang learned to control the flooding, what crops were grown??
Wheat, rice, millet, and barley
What was the Shang dynasty religion?? How were there beliefs related to farming??
Their religion was based on ancestor worship. They believed that their commitment to honoring their ancestors would lead to the success or failure of their crops each year.
What did a successful harvest season mean??
The ancestors were pleased.
What did a growing season plagued by drought or floods mean?
The ancestors were not pleased.
What led to the decline of the Shang dynasty??
Bad government. Harsh laws, torturing prisoners, and taking advantage of commoners led to rebellion by the people of the kingdom.
Who was confucius??
He was a Chinese philosopher who is someone who are drive by a deep curiosity and a desire to understand the truths about the world. Confucius was also a politician and teacher.
Why was many teachings that confucius wrote focus on family??
He believed that family was the foundation of a stable society.
What was the main idea of daoism??
[Founded by laozi]
Living in harmony with the Dao.[the way] The ultimate reality and inherent nature of the universe, through naturalness, simplicity, and effortless action.
What led to the decline of the Zhou power???
The lords loyalty to the king which happened when loyal lords die and their son have no loyalty to the king that their father served.
How did the breakdown in family structure lead to the decline of China??
Chinese people began fighting among each other.
What was the main idea of Legalism? [Founded by Han Fe Zi]
The main idea of legalism, an ancient Chinese philosophy, was that human nature is inherently selfish and that strict laws and harsh punishments are necessary to maintain social order and ensure a strong state.
What might be some disadvantages of legalism???
Legalism, with its emphasis on strict laws and harsh punishment, can lead to inflexibility, persuasive government control, and the potential for punishing innocent individuals, ultimately hindering justice and fostering a culture of fear rather than trust.
