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Chapter 7 Notes
Early China
Section 1
China’s First Civilizations
1.) This section describes the first civilizations in China and how the geography of the
region, especially its rivers, mountains, and deserts, influenced China’s cultural
development.
2.) Huang He, or the ____________________, flows for more than 2,900 miles across
China. Flooding of the river brought destruction and good __________ conditions to
China. Chang Jiang, or the ____________________, is about 3,400 miles long and flows
across central China. China has very little farmland because much of the country is either
mountains or deserts.
3.) Archaeologists believe the Huang He valley was the center of Chinese civilization.
4.) The first rulers were probably part of the __________ dynasty. There is not much
information about this dynasty. __________ was China’s first capital. It was built during
the __________ dynasty.
5.) People of the Shang dynasty were divided into groups. The __________ and his
family were the most powerful group. __________ and other royal officials were in the
class below the kings. They were __________, nobles whose wealth came from the land
they owned.
6.) __________ and __________ were below the aristocrats. Most of the lower classes
were farmers. __________ captured during wars were the lowest class of people. People
in the Shang dynasty believed in many spirits and gods and honored __________ with
offerings
7.) Shang kings believed they received wisdom and power from the gods, spirits, and
ancestors. Early Chinese writing used __________, or characters that stand for objects.
__________ are two or more pictographs joined to represent an idea. Artisans created
many works but are best known for their __________ objects.
8.) __________ and his followers rebelled against the Shang dynasty and created the
__________ dynasty. The Zhou dynasty ruled longer than any other dynasty in Chinese
history
9.) Kings in the Zhou dynasty served as the head of the government. A __________ —
officials who are responsible for different areas of government—served under the king.
The Zhou kingdom was divided into smaller territories. Each territory was led by an
__________. Zhou kings were thought to be the link between the gods and people
10.) The _________________________ was a heavenly law that gave Zhou kings the
power to rule. The Mandate of Heaven also gave people rights. The __________ was the
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proper way kings were to rule their people. __________ and __________ -control
systems were developed during the Zhou dynasty.
11.) Farm tools, such as the __________, were developed. __________ was an important
trade item during the Zhou dynasty____________________ occurred before the fall of
the Zhou dynasty. During this time, the local rulers began fighting with each other
Chapter 7 Section 1 Discussion Questions
A.) What effect did the mountains and deserts have on the Chinese people?
B.) How does the Chinese language differ from the alphabet system used by Americans?
C.) What innovative weapons/ equipment was used during the Period of Warring States?
D.) What is a dynasty?
E.) What were oracle bones and how were they used?
F.) How did the Mandate of Heaven allow for the overthrow of kings in ancient China?
G.) What were some important technological changes during the Zhou dynasty, and how
did they lead to a larger population?
H.) How did ancient Chinese kings maintain control of their dynasties?
Section 2
Life in Ancient China
1.) This section focuses on society in early China, including the great religious and
philosophical systems that were created.
2.) A __________ includes people who share a similar position in society. Chinese
society had __________ main social classes: __________, farmers, and merchants.
Aristocrats grew rich from farmers who grew crops on the land the aristocrats owned.
3.) Most Chinese people were __________. Farmers paid aristocrats with part of their
crops. __________ were in the lowest class. They grew rich but were still looked down
on by aristocrats and farmers. Chinese families were large, and children were expected to
work on farms.
4.) _________________ means children had to respect parents and elders. Men were
considered more important than women in Chinese society. Men went to school, ran the
government, and fought wars. Women raised children and managed their households
5.) Three major __________ —__________, __________, and __________ —were
developed to reinstate peace after the Period of the Warring States. __________ was a
great thinker and teacher, who believed that people needed a sense of duty to be good.
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__________ taught that all men with a talent for government should take part in
government
6.) __________ teaches that people should give up worldly desires and encourages the
importance of nature. __________ is the belief that society needs a system of harsh laws
and punishments. The scholar __________ developed Legalism.
Chapter 7 Section 2 Discussion Questions
A.) How did aristocrats use farmers to grow rich?
B.) Why did the aristocrats dislike Confucianism?
C.) Describe the concept of filial piety.
D.) Why did many aristocrats favor the philosophy of Legalism?
E.) How did Daoism differ from Confucianism?
Section 3
The Qin and Han Dynasties
1.) This section looks at the Qin and Han dynasties and the changes they brought to
China in the areas of religion, trade, government, and technology.
2.) __________ was a ruler of a local state during the Zhou dynasty. He gradually took
over neighboring states and declared himself Qin Shihuangdi, or ___________________.
Qin’s rule was based on __________. Qin abolished the officials’ authority to pass their
posts on to their sons
3.) He became the only person authorized to fill empty posts. Qin united China, created
one type of __________, ordered the building of roads and buildings, and connected the
Chang Jiang to central China by __________
4.) The ___________________ of China was built to protect the Chinese from the
__________, a nomadic people living north of China. Chinese people believed Qin
Shihuangdi was a harsh ruler, and they overthrew his dynasty after his death.
5.) __________________ founded the Han dynasty in 202 B.C. Civil service
__________ began when Han Wudi started testing potential government employees.
6.) Students prepared for many years to take the exams. The population __________
during the Han dynasty. Farmers had to divide their land among more and more sons,
which left them with very little land. Farmers sold their land to aristocrats and became
__________________ to survive.
7.) The Chinese invented many new products during the Han dynasty, such as the
__________, the __________, drill bits, __________, and __________. Chinese doctors
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began practicing __________, the practice of easing pain by sticking needles into
patients’ skin.
8.) Silk was the most valuable trade product. The ____________________ was an
overland trade route extended from western China to southwest Asia.
9.) Buddhism spread from India to China. The Han dynasty fell after wars, rebellions, and
plots against the emperor. Civil war began, and nomads invaded the country before the
government collapsed. __________ helped people cope with the chaotic times.
Chapter 7 Section 3 Discussion Questions
A.) What are some examples of Qin Shihuangdi’s cruelty in ruling his people?
B.) How did the invention of the rudder change Chinese trade?
C.) What empire had General Zhang Qian encountered during his 13-year trip west and
how did he describe it upon his return?
D.) How did Buddhism become popular in China?
E.) Why did Qin Shihuangdi have the Great Wall built?
F.) What were civil service examinations and why were they created?
G.) How did Qin Shihuangdi make China’s central government stronger?