Download Ancient China Vocab - Kenston Local Schools

Ancient China Vocabulary
Loess

A fine yellow soil that is easily carried by
wind and rain, found in China
Levee

A wall built along a
river bank to prevent
flooding.
Erosion

The gradual wearing away of soil and
rock by wind, glaciers, or water.
Famine
A widespread lack
of food resulting in
hunger and
starvation.

Steppe
A dry, grassy,
treeless plain
found in Asia
and eastern
Europe.

Dynasty
A line of
rulers who
belong to the
same family.

Nobles

A member of a ruling family or one of
high rank.
Oracle Bones
In ancient China, a cattle
or sheep bone used to
predict the future.

Emperor

The supreme ruler of an empire.
Province
A division of
land within an
empire or
country.

Confucianism
In China, a system of beliefs and
behavior based on the teachings of
Confucius, who said that people should
lead good lives by studying ancient
traditions; stressed the importance of
respecting one’s family
and ancestors.
Mandate of Heaven
The belief that the
Chinese emperor’s
right to rule came
from the gods

Grand School

A school begun by Confucian scholars in
China that trained students for government
jobs.
Seismograph

A scientific device that could detect earthquakes
hundreds of miles away, invented during the Han
Dynasty
.
Silk
A natural protein fiber,
some forms of which
can be woven into
textiles. The protein fiber
of silk is composed mainly
of fibroin and produced by
certain insect larvae to
form cocoons.
China
Officially the People's Republic of China, is a sovereign
state located in East Asia. It is the world's most populous
country, with a population of over 1.35 billion.
Civil Service System
The term civil service can refer to either: a)
A branch of governmental service in
which individuals are employed on the
basis of professional merit as proven
by competitive examinations, or b) the
body of employees in any government
agency other than the military.
Huang He
A river of northern China rising in the
Kunlun Mountains and flowing about 4,827
km (3,000 mi)
generally eastward
to the Bo Hai.

Beijing
Sometimes romanized as Peking, is the capital of the
People's Republic of China and one of the most
populous cities in
the world. The
population as of
2012 was 20,693,000.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was one
of the greatest dynasties.
The Han family became
ruler in 202 B.C. and ruled
ancient China for more than
400 years. China became
strong and rich during the
Han Dynasty.
Great Wall of China
A series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped
earth, wood, and other materials, generally built
along an east-to-west line across the historical
northern borders of China.