Share The Birth of Chinese Civilization.
Save to Folder
Name the two rivers China formed along.
Huang He (yellow river) and Chang Jiang (Yangtze river).
Why is the yellow river called like that?
Due to the color of the soil.
Explain why the Huang He is called China's Sorrow?
Due to the millions of lives taken by the floods.
Why did the Chinese call their land "The Middle Kingdom"? (3 reasons)
Due to the natural barriers they believed their land to be the center of the world developing a unique culture and a strong sense of independence.
Mention three things Yü the Great did according to his myth.
1. He dug the first channels to control floods. 2. He chased away the dragon causing the floods. 3. He formed the Xia dynasty.
Mention the three roles the king had to perform in the Shang dynasty.
Military, political and religious leader.
Who were the warlords and why were they important for Shang kings?
Military leaders leading their own armies, who the kings relied on to stay on power.
Who were the aristocrats?
People of noble birth whose wealth came from the land they owned.
Explain how were gods worshipped in Shang china.
By offering gifts or food the Chinese attempted to please the gods for them bring good fortune.
How were government and religion closely linked?
Because Shang king believed the power to rule was given by the gods and they were consulted before any important decision.
Why did the Chines honor their ancestors?
So they could bring them good luck and help in difficult times.
How did the Shang kings ask questions to the gods?
They used oracle bones.
Explain the difference between a pictograph and an ideograph.
Pictographs are characters representing an object. Ideographs use more than one pictograph to represent more complex concepts.
Mention three important advancements from the Shang dynasty.
Bronze objects, silkworms, kaolin vases, ivory and jade statues.
Explain the change of dynasties from Shang to Zhou.
The last Shang king considered a wicked tyrant was dethroned by an aristocrat, who after his victory founded the Zhou dynasty.
What is the Mandate of Heaven?
Chinese belief that right to rule came from the gods.
