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WHAP: Chapter 2 Flashcards

Questions about chapter two in World Civilizations, AP* Edition.

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74472131loessFine grained soil deposited in Ordos region in China bent by winds from central Asia; created fertile soil for sedentary agricultural communities.0
74472132Zhou1029-258 BCE; Originally a vassal family of the Shang China; possibly Turkic in origin; overthrew Shang and established second historical Chinese dynasty.1
74472133Mandate of HeavenThe divine source for political legitimacy of Chinese rulers; established by Zhou to justify overthrow of Shang.2
74472134ShangFirst Chinese dynasty for which archeological evidence exists; capital located in Ordos bend.3
74472135feudalismThe social organization created by exchanging grants of land or fiefs in return for formal oaths of allegiance and promises of loyal service; typical of Zhou dynasty and European Middle Ages; greater lords provided protection and aid to lesser lords in return for military service.4
74472136Wang MangMember of one of the powerful families related to the Han emperors through marriage; temporarily overthrew the Han between 9 and 23 CE.5
74472137XiaChina's first—possibly mythical—kingdom; no archeological sites have been connected to it; ruled by Yu.6
74472138Liu BangFounder of the Han dynasty in 202 BCE.7
74472139WuFirst of the Zhou to be recognized as king, 1122 BCE.8
74472140nuclear familiesConsisted of husband and wife, their children, and perhaps a grandmother or orphaned cousin; typical of Chinese peasantry.9
74472141Han dynasty202 BCE-220; Chinese dynasty that succeeded the Qin in 202 BCE; ruled for the next 400 years.10
74472142Ordos bulgeLocated on the Huanghe River; region of fertile soil; site of Yangshao and Longshan cultures.11
74472143YuA possibly mythical Chinese ruler revered for the construction of an effective system of flood control along the Huanghe River valley; founder of Xia kingdom.12
74472144scholar-gentryChinese class created by the marital linkage of the local land-holding aristocracy with the office-holding shi; superseded shi as governors of China.13
74472145XianAlong with the Loyang, capital of the Zhou dynasty.14
74472146ConfuciusAlso known as Kung Fuzi; major Chinese philosopher; born in 6th century BCE; author of Analects; philosophy based on need for restoration of order through advice of superior men to be found among the shi.15
74472147MenciusAlso known as Meng Ko; follower of Confucius; stressed consent of the common people.16
74472148TianHeaven; an abstract conception in early Chinese religion; possibly the combined spirits of all male ancestors; first appeared during Zhou dynasty.17
74472149SunziA 4th century BCE advisor to Chinese monarch, who wrote the classic treatise The Art of War.18
74472150ideographic writingPictographic characters grouped together to create new concepts; typical of Chinese writing.19
74472151patrilinealFamily descent and inheritance traced through the male line.20
74472152Shi HuangdiFounder of the brief Qin dynasty in 221 BCE.21
74472153Qin dynasty221-202 BCE; Established in 221 BCE by Shi Huangdi at the end of the Warring States period following the decline of the Zhou dynasty; fell in 207 BCE.22
74472154LoyangAlong with Xian, capital of the Zhou dynasty.23
74472155oraclesShamans or priests in Chinese society who foretold the future through interpretations of animal bones cracked by heat; inscriptions on bone led to Chinese writing.24
74472156Hsiung-nuAlso known as the Huns; horse nomads responsible for the disruption of Chinese, Gupta, and Roman civilizations.25
74472157secret societiesChinese peasant organizations; provided financial support in hard times and physical protection in case of disputes with local aristocracy.26
74472158forbidden cityImperial precinct within the capital cities of China; only imperial family, advisors, and household were permitted to enter.27
74472159Yellow RiverAlso known as the Huanghe; site of development of sedentary agriculture in China.28
74472160LaoziAlso known as Lao Tsu; major Chinese philosopher; recommended retreat from society into nature; individual should seek to become attuned with Dao.29
74472161DaoismPhilosophy associated with Laozi; stressed need for alignment with Dao or cosmic force.30
74472162extended familiesConsisted of several generations, including the patriach's sons and grandsons with their wives and children; typical of Shang China elites.31
74472163vassal retainersMembers of former ruling families granted control over peasant and artisan populations of areas throughout Shang kingdom; indirectly exploited wealth of their territories.32
74472164Great WallChinese defensive fortification intended to keep out the nomadic invaders from the north; initiated during Qin dynasty and reign of Shi Huangdi.33
74472165eunuchsCastrated males used within households of Chinese emperors, usually to guard his concubines; became a political counterbalance to powerful marital relatives during Later Han.34

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