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Study guide for Ancient China Sections 1&2
Name ____________________________
1. The four main food crops of ancient China were wheat, rice, soy beans, and millet.
2. As methods of farming improved in ancient China, its population increased.
Perhaps the most terrible thing that a person in ancient China could do was not show respect to his
elders or bring shame on his family
3. The opinion that Chinese civilization is so strong is supported by the fact that China has the world’s
oldest culture in the world today.
China’s Geography
4. China is located in eastern Asia. Most of China can not be farmed because of mountains and deserts.
The best place to farm in ancient China was between and in the river valleys. The greatest farming
was done in North China Plain which is the fertile soil deposited by flooding of the Yellow and
Yangtze Rivers. Today, the Chang Jiang is known as the Yangtze River and the Huang He is
known as the Yellow River. Another important river farther to the south was the Xi.
5. The Himalaya and Kunlun Mountains lie in southwestern China. The Plateau of Tibet also is located
here. Recently a stone-age breed of horses was discovered here.
6. The easiest direction for invaders to enter was from the north. Fortunately for the Chinese people, these
foreigners always adopted Chinese culture.
Shang Dynasty
7. The first inhabitants of China settled near the Huang He or Yellow River around 5000 B.C. By 3000
B.C. a civilization began here. To control the river they built ditches and canals. They raised sheep
and cattle. The Chinese called the Huang He the River of Sorrow because some years it didn’t
flood, other years it flooded too much.
8. About 1500 B.C. Shang kings set up China’s first dynasty and controlled most of the Northern Plain.
Their capital city was Anyang. Most of the land was still governed by local leaders who pledged
their loyalty to the Shang when nomads invaded. The Shang armed used chariots and bronze
weapons to defend themselves from groups like the Zhou.
9. Over the years Shang rulers gained more control of the Huang He River. As the population grew people
spread into the Chang Jiang River Valley. Today, we call it theYangtze River. The Chinese just
completed the Three Gorges Dam located along the river. It has produced energy (electricity) for
many homes in China.
The Zhou Dynasty
10. In 1027 B.C. the Zhou combined with powerful nobles to dethrone the Shang. They had their capital
city at Luoyang and would remain in power for about 800 years.
11. The powerful nobles who helped the Zhou beat the Shang kept most of the control of their city-states.
12. During the Times of the Warring States the Zhou kingdom was greatly weakened. This time period
was marked by the powerful nobles fighting against each other.
Study guide for Ancient China Sections 1&2
Name ____________________________
13. Zhou rulers developed the concept of government known as the Mandate of Heaven. This view meant
that a dynasty received its power and authority from the gods. If the people thought that a ruler
governed unwisely they had the right to rebel (revolt) or overthrow the existing family in power.
14. The backbone of China’s society during the Zhou Dynasty was the family. One of the most important
religious beliefs of the Chinese was called ancestor worship which meant honoring dead family
members because their spirits could help win favor for them with the gods.
Achievements of the early Chinese
15. Writing was invented during the Shang Dynasty. The earliest examples of this were written by priests
on oracle bones so people could learn their future from their deceased ancestors.
16.Each simple drawing or pictograph stood for an idea or thing not a sound like in our alphabet.
Because of this there are over 50,000 symbols used today in China as opposed to only 26 in English.
Since Chinese was so difficult to learn few Chinese could read or write in this beautiful style known as
calligraphy.
17.Unlike India’s caste system, hard work and dedication could pay off in China which allowed people the
possibility that they could move up in life An example of a person which did just this is Confucius.
18. Also, it was during the Shang Dynasty when the calendar was invented. It was used to tell the people
when to plant and harvest. Skilled artisans produced jewelry, animal figures, silk cloth, clay
pottery, and bronze vases. The silk cloth was later used to write on with ink.
19. During the Zhou Dynasty merchants began trading goods from city to city within China. The main
goods traded were silk cloth, jade and ivory jewelry, wooden furniture, bronze vases, pottery, and
iron tools. Merchants also began to use coins during the Zhou Dynasty which made trade far easier.
Confucius
20. In the year 551 B.C. Kong Qiu or Confucius, in English, was born to a very poor family. This is before
the Time of the Warring States, but there was still a great deal of turmoil inside of China during his life.
Early in his life his father died He worked very hard and became a teacher He urged the rulers of the citystates to stop fighting. He believed that the people must return to a time when they trusted and obeyed their
kings and respected their families. He taught that everyone had to treat each other with kindness. One of
his main ideas was filial piety This meant that all children must honor and love all older family
members. Kings were like fathers who had to protect their people who were like children. They had to
obey the kings. The rulers of the city-states disagreed with Confucius’ ideas. After his death, his beliefs
were the basis of Chinese law and government. For 2000 years all education was modeled on his ideas.
To become a government official or bureaucrat men had to study his teachings. Because of all this, we
can truly say that Confucius was more important than any ruler was when it came to shaping Chinese
society.