loess
a fine yellow soil; gives the Huang He (Yellow River) its color
bureaucracy
a (usually complicated) system of government organization
animism
the belief that plants, animals, and the universe have souls; spirits inhabit things like the river and the wind.
dike
a long wall or embankment to prevent flooding
oracle bones
Animal bones or turtle shells that people believed could tell the future
Mandate of Heaven
The god-given right to rule China
Huang He
Yellow River; also called "China's Sorrow" because it wipes out villages when it floods
Shang Dynasty
Earliest dynasty--known for its bronze work, belief in Shang di, and animism
Zhou Dynasty
Dynasty that overthrew the Shang; Ruled under the Mandate of Heaven
Shi Huang di (Qin)
1st Emperor of China; had the Terra Cotta army built for his tomb
civil service
working for the government (but not in the military)
ancestors
Deceased family members that are very important to the Chinese; they often prayed to ancestors
To which dynasty did China's first emperor belong?
The Qin (Chin) Dynasty
How did people from the Han dynasty get government jobs?
They had to take civil service exams to prove their ability
Silk Road
The trade route between China and Europe; it's how silk got out of China
Chinese inventions
crossbow; gun powder; compass; paper; paper money; ship's rudder; pasta; porcelain
filial piety
being a dutiful child; honoring/revering one's parents
yin yang
the balance of the opposite forces of nature (light/dark; male/female; good/evil)
Lao Tzu
Chinese philosopher; taught about Daoism (following the way of nature) and yin/yang
Daoism
Lao Tzu's philosophy: The Dao = The Way; The belief that people should follow the way of nature to achieve harmony
Confucius
Chinese Philosopher; taught about filial piety and understanding the 5 Basic Relationships
5 Basic Relationships
From Confucius--
Ruler and Subject
Husband and Wife
Parent and Child
Elder Sibling and Younger Sibling
Friend and Friend (only = relationship
Legalism
Emperor Qin's belief about gov't: following the laws is far more important than family, love, etc. Strict punishment is the only way to ensure that people follow the laws.
autocracy
system of government by one person with absolute power
dialect
language that is particular to a specific region
Qin Dynasty
Dynasty that spawned the first emperor of unified China--this dynasty built the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors.
Han Dynasty
Dynasty that overthrew the Qin dynasty. Set up a system of civil service and gave us paper and porcelain.
dragon
Symbol of Chinese emperors; from Shang belief that a kindly dragon lived in the rivers and seas.
Shangdi
The Lord-On-High, ruler of the universe, supposed to control human destiny and the forces of nature; priests arranged for sacrifices, supreme ancestor to the Chinese. Name means "Shang God.
Bronze
strong metal (alloy made of copper/tin) used by Shang Dynasty
Middle Kingdom
China's name for itself--so called because they believed they were middle of civilization. Non-Chinese people were barbarians
Warring State Period
The time period of unrest and of various Chinese states vying for the Mandate of Heaven. This came to an end when China's first emperor unified China.
Peking Man
Homo erectus skeleton found in Northern China
Dynastic Cycle
the rise, decline, and replacement of a family of rulers