China – Geography – Flashcards
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jade
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a hard gemstone
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oracle
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prediction
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What geographical features limited travel in China?
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mountains and deserts
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What were some features of China's earliest settlements?
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homes in villages buried partly underground, straw-covered roofs, animal pens, storage pits, cemeteries, walls to protect settlements from flooding and hostile neighbors, water wells
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Name China's two major rivers.
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Huang He (Yellow) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze)
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How did China's geography affect its development?
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It made it hard for trade and communication with other civilizations, but Chinese civilizations grew along the rivers, whose fertile soil made farming easier.
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In which river valley did China's civilization begin?
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Huang He
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What do Chinese artifacts reveal about China's early civilization?
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They hunted, fished, and used pottery for food and water, made cloth, and established settlements.
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How do historians know about the Xia dynasty?
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only through ancient stories
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What does the use of oracle bones tell us about the early Chinese?
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They believed in predicting the future and had a written language.
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Compare and contrast the differences in geography in northern and southern China
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Northern China-climate is cold and dry Southern China- the wettest region of China Both-mountain ranges, rivers
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lords
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people of high rank, nobles
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peasants
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farmers with small farms
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Confucius
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551-479 BC-the most influential teacher in Chinese history
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ethics
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moral values
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What are the tenets of Confucianism
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*Fathers should display high moral values to inspire their families. *Children should respect and obey their parents *All family members should be loyal to each other *Moral leadership, not laws brought order to China. *A king should lead by example, inspiring good behavior in all of his subjects. *The lower classes would learn by following the example of their superiors.
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What are the tenets of Daoism
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from a word meaning "the way"- Let things flow in a natural way; the universe is a balance of opposites; government should stay out of people's lives.
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Laozi
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the most famous Daoist teacher who taught that people should not try to gain wealth, nor should they seek power.
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Legalism
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the belief that people were bad by nature and needed to be controlled
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How far south did the Zhou dynasty reach?
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just south of the Chang Jiang-a little over 300 miles
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How did the Zhou's decline affect Chinese society?
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It weakened family structure and caused many civil wars among its citizens.
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What advantage did warriors gain by riding horses?
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speed, power, height, and maneuverability
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What did Confucius believe about good behavior?
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that when people behaved well, they were simply carrying out what heaven expected of them
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What are some of the qualities Confucius valued?
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honesty, fairness, education
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How did Daoism and Legalism differ in their theories about government?
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Daoists believed government should stay out of people's lives; Legalists believed society needed strict laws.
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What do you think it meant to say Laozi was born "old"?
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He was born wise and stayed wise always.
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What is the mandate of heaven?
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the idea that heaven gave kings the power to rule
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Describe the political order used by the Zhou kings to rule distant lands.
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granted land to lords for loyalty, military support, and other services
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What happened when nobles began to reject the Zhou king's authority?
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decreased loyalty, civil wars
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Who was Confucius and what did he want to do?
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a teacher and philosopher who wanted to restore family order and social harmony
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Why did many of the teachings of Confucius focus on the family?
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He believed that moral values needed to be taught by families.
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What might be some disadvantages of Legalisim?
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too much government power; innocent people punished
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Shi Huangdi
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the Qin king Ying Zheng who succeded in unifying China. The title means "first emperor." He was a Legalist who created a strong government with strict laws and harsh punishments.
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Great Wall
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a barrier that linked earlier walls across China's northern frontier to keep invading groups out of China
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How did Shi Huangdi strengthen the government?
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He took all power, kept control of nobles, divided China into districts ruled by appointed officials, and organized a tax system.
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What massive building projects did Shi Huangdi order to unify China?
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network of roads, improved water system including canals and irrigation, the Great Wall
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After unifying China, why did Shi Huangdi divide the country into military districts?
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to make governing each area easier and more efficient and to collect taxes
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What actions did Shi Huangdi take to unify China and standardize things within the empire?
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He created a uniform system of laws; standardized written language, money, and weights and measures; built uniform roads.
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sundial
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uses the position of shadows cast by the sun to tell the time of day.
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seismograph
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a device that measures the strength of an earthquake
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acupuncture
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the practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain
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How was the Han government based on the ideas of Confucius?
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Confucianism became government philosophy; government officials had to pass tests on Confucian teachings.
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Why did the family take on such importance during the Han dynasty?
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Han leaders promoted Confucianism, which emphasized strong family ties.
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What advances did the Chinese make during the Han period?
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They invented paper, the seismograph, the sundial, and acupuncture.
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Whose teachings were the foundation for government during the Han dynasty?
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Confucius
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How did Emperor Wudi create a strong central government?
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took lands from lords, raised taxes, controlled grain supply
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What was the son's role in the family?
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to obey his parents, carry on the family line, and take care of his parents
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How did living conditions for the wealthy differ from those of the peasants during the Han dynasty?
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wealthy-lived in large, richly-furnished homes, had servants, and wore luxurious clothing peasants-simple houses, ate rice and grains, dressed poorly, worked hard
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How did advances in technology affect farming and silk production?
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It yielded the wheelbarrow and the iron plow, which greatly increased the amount of crops they were able to grow and carry. It also yielded the foot-powered looms which increased silk production.
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Why did Chinese trade expand under Han rule?
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Han conquests put the Chinese in contact with more distant peoples who wanted to trade for Chinese goods.
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How did Chinese people learn of Buddhism?
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While trading with other civilizations, they exchanged ideas along with trade goods. Among these ideas was a new religion.
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Around what physical feature does the Silk Road split into two routes?
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the Taklimakan Desert
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How did wheelbarrows help farmers
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They allowed farmers to carry larger loads that before by themselves
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How was silk made in ancient China?
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Silkworm cocoons were unwound, the silk thread was prepared for dyeing and weaving, and then woven into fabric.
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Why did the Chinese keep silk-making methods a secret?
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so they could be the only people who know how to make the valuable fabric and thus, could put a high price tag on the material
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Where did the Silk Road begin and end?
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It began in central China and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.
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What information would you use to support the argument that the silk trade must have been very valuable?
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In exchange for silk, traders returned with gold, silver, horses, and precious stones.
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What is diffusion?
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the spread of ideas from one culture to another
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What Buddhist beliefs appealed to millions of Chinese peasants?
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This religion offered hope and comfort in a time of political instability and violence. It promised rebirth and relief from suffering.
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What goods and ideas came into China? What goods did China send to other countries along the Silk Road?
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Into China-gold, silver, precious stones, horses, and Buddhism: Out of China-precious goods including silk and procelain
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What peaceful events in China changed Chinese history?
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technology, trade, and Buddhism
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Daoism
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stressed the importance of living in harmony with nature
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Shi Huangdi
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took a name that means first emperor
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Legalism
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stressed that people needed to be controlled with strict laws
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jade
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a beautiful, hard gemstone that the Chinese made into many objects
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Confucius
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emphasized the importance of moral values and respect for the family
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peasant
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a farmer who tills a small plot of land
