Name ______

China Test Review and Study Guide

  1. List the 4 main Chinese Dynasties and each of their accomplishments. Include Key People.

Shang / Zhou / Qin / Han
-1500 to 1050 BC
-1st Dynasty
-1st Writing System
-Calendar
-Chopsticks
-Bronze Work / -1050 to 400 BC
-Longest Lasting dynasty
-Daoism
-Confucianism
-Legalism
-Iron tools and Plows / -221 to 206 BC
-Qin Shi Huangdi
-Strong central Govt. with strict laws
-Standardized money and writing systems
-Roads and Canals
-Built the Great Wall / -206 BC to 220 AD
-Govt. based on Confucianism
-Began trading on Silk Road
-Spread of Buddhism from India
-Invented Paper
  1. What happened in Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989 and who did it involve?Over 100,000 pro-democracy protestors wanted more economic freedoms and less government power. They gathered to protest and refused to leave, so the military started a massacre.
  1. List 4 facts about the Three Gorges Dam.(1) Located on the Chang Jiang, (2) The world’s largest dam,

(3) Built to prevent flooding, (4) Millions of people, plants, and animals have been displaced

  1. Since 1949, what is the official name of China?The People’s Republic of China
  1. What is the largest plateau in China and what is its nickname?The Plateau of Tibet also known as The Roof of the World
  1. Name and describe the desert that is shared by China and Mongolia.The Gobi Desert – is a harsh area of rock and gravel; also the world’s coldest desert
  1. Why is the Yellow River also known as China’s Sorrow?Its floods have killed millions of people
  1. What did the people build to protect themselves against flooding?The Three Gorges Dam – this was a source of hydroelectricity to reduce pollution
  1. Describe the leadership of:

a)Mao Zedong – Communist Govt., Command Economy, Took control of all private farms, businesses and factories

b)Deng Xiaoping – 1 Country, Two systems = (Mixed Economy of Command and Market),

Communist Leader after Mao Zedong died in 1976. Made economic reforms, granting the people of China more economic freedoms.This helped to grow the economy of China.

c)Chiang Kai-Shek – (Be sure to include where he and his people fled to.) – Nationalist leader who fled to Taiwan after the Chinese Civil War. Taiwan is now a multi-party democracy.

  1. Which leader would most people want? Why do think so?The one who gave people the most freedoms
  1. What was the purpose of the Great Wall? Which Dynasty is responsible for building it?To keep intruders out, specifically the Mongols. The Qin Dynasty is responsible for the Great Wall.
  1. Who is the Dalai Lama and to which country was he exiled?Tibet’s Buddhist leader. He had to flee to India.
  1. Describe:

a)Daoism – stresses living simply and in harmony with nature

b)Buddhism – religion based on the teachings of Buddha that developed in India. Beliefs are moral behavior, kindness, and that meditation leads to peace

c)Confucianism – a blend of Daoism and Buddhism. Philosophy based on the ideas of Confucius who believed in the importance of family, moral values, and respect for one’s elders

  1. Describe the following, including their major cities:

a)Mongolia – Landlocked country north of China. Nomadic people who value horsemanship. Ulaanbaatar is its capital city.

b)China – Largest population of people in the world (Europe, Russia, and The US combined). Overcrowded. Beijing is its capital city.

c)Taiwan – Island country south of China. One of Asia’s richest and most industrialized countries.

  1. List the 3 main rivers in China.(1) Huang He or Yellow River – its floods have killed many people “China’s Sorrow”. (2) Chang Jiang or Yangtze River. (3) Xi River
  1. Where do most people in China live and why?In Eastern China, in the Manchurian and North China Plains. The landforms of Western China make settlement difficult.
  1. What is the Silk Road and why is it important? Which Dynasty developed it?Trade route between China and Europe for such items as Silk, Spices, and Wool. The Han Dynasty developed it.
  1. Describe the Ring of Fire including its location, importance, and dangers.The Ring of Fire is an area that circles the Pacific Ocean; known for its many earthquakes and volcanoes
  1. Describe China’s systems of government throughout history.

(1st) Dynasties - emperors as leaders, (2nd) Republic – people’s choice, (3rd) Communism – no choices

  1. List 4 natural barriers that exist in China.Plateau of Tibet, Taklimakan Desert, Himalayan Mountain, Altay Mountains
  1. Describe China’s Civil War. (Consider why it started, who was involved, and when it ended.)

After rebels forced out China’s last emperor in 1911, they formed a republic where voters were able to elect their leaders. Power struggles were ongoing and two rival groups emerged – the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek, and the Communists, led by Mao Zedong. The Communists won. The war ended in October 1949.Communists founded a new government, the People’s Republic of China. The Nationalists fled to Taiwan, where they founded the Republic of China.