China Study Guide Answers World History

Skills: There will be timeline questions! There will be a DBQ on the test! There will be a section of statements that are fact vs. opinion!

Fact vs. Opinion Practice Shi Huangdi was the worst leader in Chinese history. Shi Huangdi means “first emperor.” The ideas of Confucius are called Confucianism. Legalism is dumb. Daoists don’t want to interfere with nature or each other.

Huang He (Yellow River The main river that the Chinese settled on. Floods left fertile silt, but also caused death. It is sometimes called, “China’s sorrow.”

Oracle Bones They were used by the Shang Dynasty to predict the future. They would write questions on the bones and heat them, when heated they would crack. Priests used the crack to predict the future.

Daoism The ideas that the world is a series of opposites. (light and dark, black and white, hot and cold) Daoists are peaceful and do not seek fame or fortune. They don’t want to interfere with nature or other people.

Confucianism A philosophy based ethics or morals. The parents must teach the children (Family) The government must model proper behavior (Social Harmony)

Legalism The idea that all people are born bad and need strict laws to control them. Punishments were harsh. They were all about war and expansion to gain more control and power.

People to know: Shi Huangdi- China’s most famous legalist ruler of the Qin Dynasty. The was the first ruler to unite all of China (one writing style, one type of money, built the Great Wall). He killed anyone who opposed him. Confucius- a teacher who wanted to improve the actions of people in China by using ethics. Laozi- The most important teacher in Daoism. He taught that people should not want to gain wealth or power.

Short Answers 1. Gobi Desert 2. Huang He or Yellow River 3. There were stories that were passed down about Yu the Great. We have not found any artifacts to back them up. 4. First Emperor 5. To defend China’s northern border from the Nomads to the north.

Short Answer Continued 6. He had very strict policies. He demanded that everyone followed him. He burned writings that didn’t deal with legalism. He killed those who opposed him. He also used his armies to expand the power of his empire. 7. Confucianism 8. Daoism 9. Legalism 10. Buddhism (spread by monks into China and from the Silk Road)