Chapter 5: Ancient China Study Guide

Vocabulary:

  • civil service-people who carried out the work of the government (government workers)
  • currency-type of money
  • dike-protective wall used to hold back water and prevent flooding
  • extended family-closely related people of several generations
  • loess-yellow-brown soil
  • philosophy-system of beliefs and values
  • silk-a valuable cloth, originally made only in China
  • warlord-local leader of an armed group
  • Yin and Yang-in Taoism, the two sides of the universal life force

Key Concepts

Geography of Ancient China

  • physical geography affected Chinese civilization by creatingbarriers to the outside world
  • Mountains
  • Deserts
  • Rivers
  • First farming settlements developed along the rivers (just as in Mesopotamia and Egypt)
  • Yellow River (Huang)
  • Chang River
  • As a result of these physical features, early ideas did not spread to other regions
  • northern China climate: cool and dry
  • southern China climate: warm and wet

Family

  • Family was the center of early Chinese society
  • the most important element in early Chinese life

Confucius

  • believed that if people showed loyalty and respect within the family, the same values would spread to society
  • Believed people in authority should set a good example by behaving well
  • Government jobs were based on his teachings
  • They could be held by poor young men, as long as they could read
  • The teaching of Confucian philosophy ruled many aspects of Chinese life

Dynasties:

  • Qin (“Chin”) Dynasty
  • Shi Huangdi: China’s first emperor
  • Tried to control Chinese thought
  • Outlawed ideas of Confucius and other great thinkers
  • Had Great Wall of China constructed
  • United his empire
  • Standardized writing, currency ($), weights and measures, axle length
  • Created system of highways, code of laws, burned books to unify culture
  • Farmers helped make his empire strong
  • Fed people
  • Worked on public projects (highways, Great Wall)
  • Paid taxes
  • Fought floods
  • Etc. (see Qin notes, 4/1/14)
  • Han Dynasty
  • Rulers wanted tobring back respect for traditioninfluence of Confucianism grew
  • Ruled more fairly than Qin rulers
  • ruled using Confucianism
  • helped create stability and order
  • Wudi(warrior)
  • Main interestl: expand Chinese empire by conquering other lands
  • Silk Road-trade route that connected China with the West
  • Many achievements and accomplishments including the invention of paper