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Classical Civilizations: China

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110577041Yin and YangTwo forces in the universe, according to Chinese Theory: Yin is the passive, negative force, and Yang the active, positive force
110577042DaoThe proper "way" Chinese kings were expected to rule under the mandate of heaven.
110577043DynastyA line of rulers who belong to the same family.
110577044ZhouThe imperial dynasty of China from 1122 to 221 BC, notable for the rise of Confucianism and Taoism.
110577045Middle KingdomChinese term for land between the two main river civilizations.
110577046Mandate of HeavenA political theory of ancient China in which those in power were given the right to rule from a divine source
110577047Sons of HeavenZhou rulers
110577048Mandarin ChineseThe dialect of Chinese spoken in Beijing and adopted as the official language for all of China
110577049QinDynasty that came to power in China in 221 B.C. under which the first true empire of China was created
110577050Shi HuangdiFounder of the Qin dynasty and China's first emperor
110577051Great Wall of ChinaA system of fortified walls with a roadway along the top, constructed as a defense for China against the nomads of the regions that are now Mongolia and Manchuria: completed in the 3rd century b.c., but later repeatedly modified and rebuilt. 2000 mi. (3220 km) long
110577052HanImperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time) from 206 BC to 221 and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy
110577053Wu TiHan "Warrior Emperor" who greatly expanded the empire, drove out Huns
110577054BureaucracySystem of managing government through departments run by appointed officials
110577055Chinese BureaucracyLasted from Han Dynasty into 20th century
110577056ConfuciusChinese philosopher, administrator, and moralist. His social and moral teachings, collected in the Analects , tried to replace former religious observances
110577057LegalismChinese philosophy developed by Hanfeizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws
110577058DaoismPhilosophical system developed by of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course ("path") of natural events
110577059LaoziFounder of Daoism
110577060MandarinsMembers of the elite class of civil servents in Chinese government
110577061Silk RoadAn ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean (4,000 miles)
116483974Chinese DynastiesXia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han

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