Social Studies Chapter 8

What are the Chinese inventions?

Collar Harness - allowed horses to pull heavy loads Wheelbarrow - Made it easier cof farmers to move heavy loads by hand. Watermills - Used river power to grind grain.

Han Dynasty

A Chinese dynasty begun in 202 B.C. by Liu Bang, which reunified China.

Shi Huangdi

A Chinese ruler who came to power in 221 B.C. and unified and expanded China by ending internal battles and conquering rival states.

Daoism

A belief system said to have begun with the sixth-century-B.C. philosopher Laozi. It emphasizes living in harmony with nature.

What is Legalism?

A belief that rulers should use the legal system to force people to obey laws.

Pictograph

A picture or drawing that represents a word or an idea in an early system of writing.

Qin

A state of ancient China.

Bureaucracy

A system of organized government departments staffed by appointed officials.

According to the text what was the main contribution of Wudi to the Chinese empire?

According to the text, the main contribution of Wudi to the Chinese empire was that he used war to expand China. Wudi made many military conquests. He brought southern Chinese provinces, northern Vietnam, and northern Korea under his control. He chased nomadic invaders out of northern China. By the end of his rule, China had grown significantly, in fact nearly as large as it is today.

Where did the early Chinese civilization develop? Why?

Along the banks of the rivers because it brought water and silt that made farming possible.

Mandate of Heaven

An ancient Chinese belief that a good ruler had the gods' approval.

Oracle bone

An animal bone or turtle shell used by the Shang kings of China to communicate with and influence the gods.

Philosophy

An investigation of basic truths about the universe, based on logical reasoning.

Why was he so important?

By the end of his rule, China had grown significantly, in fact nearly as large as it is today.

In what ways were Confucian and Legalism similar? How are they different?

Confucian and Legalism were similar because they both included respect. Husbands had to be good to their wives. Wives had to obey every decision of their husbands. Brothers had to be kind to brothers, but a younger brother always had to follow the wishes of his older brother. Confucian and Legalism are different because Confucian says the ruler's responsibility was to live correctly and treat his subjects with respect. If a ruler led in a right, moral way, a subject's duty was to obey. Legalism says that rulers should use the legal system to force people to obey laws. Those who followed this belief system saw disorder in society. They believed that harsh punishments were needed to make people afraid to do wrong.

What did Confucius see as the key to peace and harmony?

Confucius saw respect as the key to peace and harmony.

What is Confucianism?

Confucius taught a code of proper conduct for people. Respect.

Explain Daoism.

Daloism is the teachings of Laozi that contrast sharply with Legalism and Confucianism.

How did Daoism differ from Confucian thought?

Daoism differs from Confucian thought because Daoism believes in a way that guides all things, while Confucianism is about good conduct and respect.

Who was Wudi?

Expanded China. From 141 to 87 B.C., a descendant of Liu Bang named Wudi (woo•dee) ruled the Han Empire. He was called the Martial Emperor because he used war to expand China. Wudi made many military conquests. He broughtsouthern Chinese provinces, northern Vietnam, and northern Korea under his control. He chased nomadic invaders out of northern China.

What is the role that the silk road played in the development of China?

Goods leaving China included silk, paper, and pottery. Exchange goods coming from the west included sesame seeds and oil, metals, and precious stones. One trade item the Chinese especially valued was Central Asian horses. Cultures and ideas also traveled along the roads.

What is Daosim?

Harmony and nature. Daoists believed that a universal force called the Dao, or the Way, guides all things. All creatures, except humans, live in harmony with this force. To relate to nature and each other, each human being had to find an individual way, or Dao. The individual had to learn to live in harmony with nature and with inner feelings.

To Confucius what was the role of government?

He believed that government leaders should set a good example so that people would see what was correct.

What were the geographic barries that kept China Isolated?

Huge mountain chains, vast deserts, and large expanses of water

How do you think the presence of the Silk Roads affected life in the cities located along their paths?

I think the presence of the Silk Roads affected life in the cities located along their paths because they got goods faster, and the ideas spread to them because of the travelers that might have stopped in their cities.

Trans-Eurasian

Involving the continents of Europe and Asia.

What does the mandate of heaven say?

It says that when a ruler is bad or foolish, the gods will take away their approval, and bad things would happen such as peasent uprisings, invasions, floods, or earthquakes.

Although the Han dynasty faced many troubles it stayed in power until AD 220. Why was it unusual for a dynasty to last so long?

It was unusual for a dynasty to last so long because most of the time a new person ruled after rebellions peasant revolts floods, famine and economic disasters.

What are the different belief systems?

Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism.

Why didn't Legalists want people reading books that presented different philosophies?

Legalists didn't want people reading books that presented different philosophies because they believed that human nature is wicked and that people do good only if they are forced to do it. Legalists believed that the government must pass strict laws to control the way people behaved. They believed that harsh punishments were needed to make people afraid to do wrong.

Why do many people in China today identify themselves as people of the Han?

Many people in China today identify themselves as people of the Han because they identify strongly with their ancient past.

Where did most Chinese live and work during the Han dynasty?

Most Chinese people lived in one or two story mud houses during the Han dynasty. They worked as merchants, craftspeople, and government officials. They also worked as musicians, jugglers, and acrobats. They also worked on farms.

What are the dates of each?

The Shang Dynasty 1766 B.C., The Zhou Dynasty 1027 BC The Qin Dynasty 221 B.C Han Dynasty 202 B.C.,

What became of Daoism over the centuries in China?

Over the centuries in China, Daoism became a religion with priests, rituals, and volumes of collected writings. Unlike Confucianism, however, Daoism remained primarily a Chinese belief system.

Why was paper such an important invention to the Chinese?

Paper was an important invention to the Chinese because before that, paper was mostly made of costly silk, that most people were not able to afford. Inexpensive paper made books available in a country that valued learning. Paper was important for a bureaucratic government that kept many records.

Filial piety

Respect for one's parents and ancestors— an important teaching of Confucianism.

In what ways was China similar geographically to lands where other ancient civilizations settled?

Rivers. China was geographically similar to lands where other ancient civilizations settled because they were all geographically isolated. The huge mountain chains, vast deserts, and large expanses of water made the spread of ideas and goods to China difficult. As a result, Chinese civilization settled near rivers

What is the social structure of each.

Shang - In Shang culture, respect for one's parents and ancestors was very important. Zhou - Kings put people with family ties or other trusted people in charge of regions. Qin - To gain personal control of the government, he set out to weaken the noble families. Han - The Han rulers put family members and trusted people in local government positions.

What is each religion?

Shang - Ruled with the gods permision. Zhou - (manate of heaven) the Zhou kings thought that trouble would come if rulers lost heaven's favor. Eventually, the idea that a good ruler had approval from the gods became a part of Chinese culture. When a ruler was bad or foolish, the people believed the approval of the gods would be taken away. Qin - they belived in the afterlife, but were not looking foward to it. Han - They managed to stay in rule even though there were earthquakes and floods.

What is each government?

Shang - They set up a dynasty. Zhou - Not strong. Kings put people with family ties or other trusted people in charge of regions. Those local rulers, or lords, owed loyalty and military service to the king. In return,the king promised to help protect their lands. Qin - Shi Huangdi wanted a strong central government. To gain personal control of the government, he set out to weaken the noble families. He took land away from defeated nobles. Shi Huangdi also forced the nobles to live at the capital so he could watch them. These actions weakened the power of noble families and strengthened the emperor's power. Han - officials chosen by the ruler ran offices, or bureaus. The officials helped enforce the emperor's rule.

Why was she so important?

She was important because she just kept using the young kings for her own use. She put ideas into their heads, and they would make it happen because they didn't know better.

In what way did Shi Huangdi's building of the Great Wall represent his overall approach to governing China?

Shi Huangdi's building of the Great Wall represented his overall approach to governing China by keeping out invaders and keeping people in. It was his way of controlling them.

What are the different Emperors in the chapter?

Shi Huangdi, expanded China Liu Bang, Ended the war, reunited China, started the Han Dynasty, stong government, lowered taxes. Punishments less harsh. Empress Lui, ruled for her son and continued to place infants on the throne. Wudi, ruled the Han Dynasty, made many military conquests. He broughtsouthern Chinese provinces, northern Vietnam, and northern Korea under his control. He chased nomadic invaders out of northern China.

Why was Silk so important to the Chinese?

Silk was so important to the Chinese because at the time, one pound of silk was equal to one pound of gold. Getting gold and silver was important to China because it did not have rich deposits of either mineral.

Along which river did Chinese civilization first emerged?

The Chinese civilization first emerged from the Huang He and Chiang Jiang.

What is the Dao?

The Dao is a universal force, or "the way", that guides all things. All creatures, except humans, live in harmony with this force. To relate to nature and each other, each human being had to find an individual way, or Dao. The individual had to learn to live in harmony with nature and with inner feelings.

Explain the Mandate of heaven.

The Mandate of Heaven was the idea that a good ruler had approval from the gods became a part of Chinese culture. When a ruler was bad or foolish, the people believed the approval of the gods would be taken away.

Who were the Shang kings?

The Shang Kings set up a dynasty, or rule by generations of one family. The kings were responsible for religious activities. They claimed to rule with the gods' permission. Shang kings controlled the central portion of the North China Plain; their relatives ruled distant areas. The Shang used chariots to defend themselves against the nomads who lived to the north and west. They made war with nomadic people like the Zhou.

What are the four dynastys?

The Shang, The Zhou Dynasty, The Qin Dynasty, Han Dynasty.

The dynsaty of kings that were the first to rule were?

The Shangs.

How did the Zhou system of government help contribute to the time of Warring States?

The Zhou system of government helped contribute to the time of Warring States because the lords were weak, so people began to fight among themselves and with other peoples.

How did the ancient Chinese believe gods showed their unhappiness with a ruler?

The ancient Chinese believed that gods had showed their unhappiness with a ruler by causing troubles such as peasant uprisings, invasions, floods, or earthquakes.

Why did civil war erupt in China under the son of Shi Huangdi?

The civil war erupted in China under the son of Shi Huangdi because he was a less effective ruler than his father. People rebelled during his rule. A civil war broke out during the last years of his reign. Eventually a military general named Liu Bang defeated the Qin forces. He ended the civil war and reunified China.

Explain how the development of writing helped to unify China.

The development of writing helped to unify China because it makes it easier for people to trade and interact with each other because they all speak the same language.

What event led to the end of the Shang dynasty and the start of the Zhou?

The event that led to the end of the Shang dynasty and the start of the Zhou was that the Zhou people moved down from the northwest. They clashed with the Shang on many occasions. Around 1027 B.C., the Zhou ruler Wu Wang led a force that defeated the Shang.

List the four dynasties we have studied in order from oldest to newest.

The four dynasties that we have studied in order from oldest to newest is: The Shang Dynasty 1766 B.C., The Zhou Dynasty 1027 BC The Qin Dynasty 221 B.C Han Dynasty 202 B.C.,

How did geographic barriers affect the development of early Chinese civilization?

The geographic barriers affected the development of early Chinese civilization because it made the spread of ideas and goods to China difficult.

How are the legacies of Confucianism and Daoism similar? How are they different?

The legacies of Confucianism and Daoism are similar because they both continued to be practiced in China over time. They are different because Daoism remained as a Chinese belief system, while Confucianism is not.

Silk Roads

The overland trade routes along which silk and other Chinese goods passed to Mesopotamia and Europe.

Dynastic cycle

The pattern of the rise and fall of dynasties.

What was the purpose of oracle bones?

The purpose of oracle bones was for the kings to ask the gods to influence people, and to recieve messages from the gods.

Cultural diffusion

The spread of ethnic ideas and customs to other areas of the world.

What system did Han rulers use to build the most effective bureaucracy?

The system that Han rulers used to build the most effective bureaucracy was that they they set up a system of tests to find the most educated and ethical people for the imperial bureaucratic state. To do this they tested individuals on their knowledge of Confucianism.

List three characteristics of Han cities:

The three characteristics of Han cities were that they were industrious people whose civilization prospered. A large part of the Han society lived and worked on farms. Farmers lived in villages near the lands they worked. The farmers wore simple clothing and sandals, much like clothing today. For the cooler months, their clothing was stuffed like a quilt. Farmers in the north raised wheat or millet. Those in the south raised rice. Fish and meat were available to them, but they were also very expensive. Families kept vegetable gardens for additional food.

Explain how the trade along the Silk Roads led to the introduction of Buddhism in China?

The trade along the Silk Roads led to the introduction of Buddhism in China because the trails stretched westward from China through central Asia to Mesopotamia and Europe. In Asia, they used Buddhism. So like goods and ideas, Buddhism also spread to China from Asia.

What two categories do the five relationships fall under?

The two categories that the five relationships fall under are proper conduct in the family and proper conduct in society.

Explain yin and yang.

The yin (black) stands for all that is cold, dark, and mysterious. The yang (white) represents all that is warm, bright, and light. The forces complement each other. The forces are always changing and evolving. Understanding yin and yang helped a person understand how he or she fits into the world.

How does it affect a ruler that loses it?

They will have lost heaven's favor, and they would not be ruler any more.

What were two benefits of the many Chinese inventions for agriculture.

Two benefits of the many Chinese inventions for agriculture were that it was easier to pull loads and there was more grain available for trade.

What two inventions helped make it easier to move heavy loads?

Two inventions that helped move heavy loads were a collar harness and a wheelbarrow.

Who was Empress Lu?

When Liu Bang died in 195 B.C., his widow, the Empress Lü, ruled for their young son. Lü outlived her son and continued to place infants on the throne. This allowed her to retain power because the infants were too young to rule. When she died in 180 B.C. all her relatives were executed.

How might you tell the difference between a wealthy farmer and a poor farmer?

You might tell the difference between a wealthy farmer and a poor farmer because rich farmers probably had an ox or two to pull a plow. Poor farmers had to pull the plows themselves. Both rich and poor had a few simple tools to make farming a bit easier.

List the five relationships:

• father and son • elder brother and junior brother• husband and wife • friend and friend • ruler and subject