Social Studies quiz helper for Ancient China Flashcards
(25 cards)
Why is the Huang He River, despite being an important water source for the ancient Chinese, sometimes called China’s Sorrow?
It’s called China’s sorrow because of its history of devastating and frequent floods that have caused immense destruction and loss of life.
What are the alternate names for the Chang Jiang River and the Huang He River in China?
The Chang Jiang River is known as the Yangtze River, while the Huang He River is called the Yellow River.
How did the geography of China affect civilization?
The geography of the area fosters isolation, independent development, and agricultural prosperity.
True or False: Dragons were feared in China since they were aggressive creatures and often brought life-threatening fires in Chinese legends.
False
Why were oracle bones popular among early rulers in ancient China?
Because they were used for divination, allowing rulers to seek guidance from ancestors and deities on matters of state, harvests, and military campaigns.
Why did many thinkers become concerned about the well-being of China and create new philosophies to share with others?
Because they were aiming to restore order and guide society towards a better future.
Which thinker believed that building strong relationships in the family and observing filial piety were necessary for an ethical and orderly society?
Confucianists
According to Laozi and followers of Daoism, what type of person is the most likely to find happiness?
individuals who live in harmony with the Tao
What religion was introduced to China from India through trade routes during ancient history?
Buddhism
Why did Qin Shi Huangdi order his people to build the Great Wall of China?
To protect his unified empire from nomadic Xiongnu invaders from the north by connecting existing fortifications and extending them along the northern border.
True or False: The Great Wall is made up of several smaller walls that were built, repaired, and torn down over the centuries.
True
A lack of written records and little archeological evidence causes many historians to question the existence of which dynasty?
Xia dynasty
How did the Zhou Dynasty explain the transfer of the Mandate of Heaven between dynasties?
By claiming the Shang rulers had become morally corrupt and lost the “Mandate of Heaven,”
True or False: Feudalism involved emperors renting their land to farmers in exchange for money, animal sacrifices, and community service.
False
What was the cause of the Warring States Period?
It was caused by the weakening of the Zhou Dynasty
What is the translation for the name “Qin Shi Huangdi” that was used by Ying Zheng after he ended the Warring States Period?
First Emperor of Qin
Why did Legalists such as Shang Yang, Han Feizi, and Qin Shi Huangdi believe that it was fair to govern with harsh punishments?
because they viewed human nature as inherently selfish and believed strict laws and severe consequences were necessary to maintain order and strengthen the state.
Why did the Qin Dynasty have a significantly shorter reign than the other dynasties in ancient China?
Because everyone came from the harsh rule of Qin Shi Huangdi, leading to widespread resentment and ultimately, a peasant rebellion that led to the dynasty’s collapse and the rise of the Han Dynasty.
How was Liu Bang, who started the Han Dynasty, different from the founders of other dynasties in ancient China?
because he came from a peasant background, a stark contrast to the aristocratic origins of many previous rulers, and he initially prioritized benevolent governance and peasant well-being.
Which belief system became the political philosophy of China during the reign of Wu of Han and remains important to Chinese society today?
Confucianism
True or False: The Silk Road increased the spread of knowledge, languages, religions, and diseases.
True
What did Zhang Qian learn about during his journey in Central Asia that motivated Wu of Han to begin trade relations between China and cultures to the west?
It is about the existence of sophisticated civilizations with rich markets and, most importantly, a superior breed of horses called the “Heavenly Horse,” which significantly motivated him to establish trade relations with these regions, leading to the development of the Silk Road.
Why was the closure of the Silk Road a major turning point in world history?
because it significantly disrupted trade, cultural exchange, and the flow of goods, ideas, and technologies between East and West
According to Confucianism, which relationship was the most important to maintaining social harmony in China?
It was the parent-child relationship
