Ancient China Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Ancient China?

Ancient China was a period of time in the history of East Asia that dates from around 2000 BCE to 221 BCE. It was an era of great accomplishments, inventions and powerful dynasties all vying for power. Ancient China had a long-lasting and profound influence on modern day Chinese culture due to its technological, philosophical and religious advancements.The Xia Dynasty is believed to have been the first dynasty in Ancient China (c.2100 1600 BCE). Despite there being no physical evidence to support this, legend has it that during this time period a man named Yu the Great tamed floods which allowed cities such as Xianyang, Anyang and Yinping to be built. The Xia Dynasty also saw advances in bronze tools, pottery kilns, wheeled vehicles and writing instruments – all things which would become integral parts of Chinese society over the following centuries.The Shang Dynasty (c 1600 1046 BCE) followed the Xia period and brought with it further advancements in technology including chariots, iron weapons and horse-drawn carts as well as developments in communication methods such as carved inscriptions on oracle bones used for divination purposes. Additionally, during this era there were major political changes with aristocrats gaining more prominence at court thus leading many scholars believe that Ancient Chinese civilization moved from tribalism into feudalism during these times. The Zhou Dynasty replaced the Shang rule between 1045 256BCE; however their power began to wane after 771CE when most of northern China fell under barbarian invasions led by non-Chinese forces known collectively as ‘barbarian peoples’ who established their own kingdoms throughout much of northern china one example being the Qin state which later became unified under Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi forming what we now know today as Imperial China (221BCE 1912CE). Under his rule he standardized currency weights & measures across his empire while simultaneously developing irrigation systems providing water sources for farming communities; furthermore he connected existing roads creating what later became known as ‘the Silk Road’ trading route connecting Europe & Asia together via land travel allowing goods/ideas/religions etc.to move freely between them both continents ensuring lasting cultural exchanges between east & west still evident even today. In conclusion then it can clearly be seen how important ancient china was within world history given its impact upon our current understanding culture not just within east Asia but globally too thanks largely due its advancement technologies plus contact made other nations through use Silk Road thereby helping spread various religions customs etc.across both Europe & Asia alike.