Topic 5; Ancient China; Lesson 1-2

Democracy

A type of government in which the people have the power to elect their leaders. Much different from Divine Right and the Mandate of Heaven that the Ancient Chinese believed in

divination

foretelling the future by means of magic; Ancient Shang Shamans did this by using oracle bones

Loess

yellowish dust that blows into the Huang River (Yellow River) and when the river floods it provides fertile soil for farming in the Huang Valley

Pictograph

a picture that represents a word or an idea

Dynasty

a ruling family of rulers, especially in China

Logograph

a symbol that represents a word or group of words

Dike

a wall to hold back water

Oracle Bones

animal bones or shells that were written on to predict the future in Ancient China; questions were written on these bones and emperors or priests would heat them up and use them to read the future

Achievements of the Shang

bronze metal-working, jade carvings, jade jewelry, a calendar system, silk, and pottery

Chang River

Also known Yangtze River; the longest river in China; flows from the Tibetan Plateau and empties into the East China Sea

Huang River

Also known as the Yellow River; 2nd longest river in China it begins in the Tibetan Plateau and flows east emptying into the Yellow Sea

Huang Valley

Chinese civilization began in this geographical region over 7,000 years ago; circa 5000 BCE

Flag of China

The red in the flag symbolizes revolution. The large star symbolizes communism and the little stars represent the Chinese people. The position of the stars represents the unity of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party.

Chinese inventions

silk, paper, porcelain, gunpowder, iron plow, kung-fu, noodles, compass, acupuncture

Geography of China

similar in size (4th largest) to the United States (3rd largest); Himalayas to the south, the Gobi Desert to the north, the Tibetan Plateau in the west, and the Pacific Ocean to the East

Challenge

something that is difficult or demanding to do; example: collaborating with your Team 6D House to earn points each day

Mandate of Heaven

the belief that the Chinese king's right to rule came from the gods and heaven

Divine Right

the belief that the authority of kings comes directly from God or Heaven

Shang Dynasty

the first recorded Chinese dynasty; Settled and began farming in the Huang Valley (circa 1600 BCE)

Chinese New Year

the most important Chinese holiday, lasts up to 15 days and is celebrated in January or February depending on the first full moon in the new year; also known as the Spring Festival

Zhou Dynasty

the second dynasty of Ancient China; the longest lasting Chinese dynasty, during which the use of iron tools and weapons were introduced.

Interpret

to explain or be able to give the meaning of something