Question 1

What was the general status of peasants during the Zhou period?

Accepted Answer

A) The peasants were enslaved on a hereditary basis. 
B) They were mired in a share-cropping existence, with no protection from the central government. 
C) They were hard working, but not miserable, and sometimes even prosperous. 
D) They lacked needed equipment and work animals such as horses. 
E) They were happier than the aristocrats, because they controlled their own lives. 
A) The peasants were enslaved on a hereditary basis. 
B) They were mired in a share-cropping existence, with no protection from the central government. 
C) They were hard working, but not miserable, and sometimes even prosperous. 
D) They lacked needed equipment and work animals such as horses. 
E) They were happier than the aristocrats, because they controlled their own lives. C

Question 2

What was one of the aspects of the idea of the "mandate of heaven"?

Accepted Answer

A) The mandate helped with flood recovery. 
B) It benefited the peasantry. 
C) The rulers became more religious. 
D) It was used to justify revolts. 
E) The mandate held little appeal among ordinary Chinese. 
A) The mandate helped with flood recovery. 
B) It benefited the peasantry. 
C) The rulers became more religious. 
D) It was used to justify revolts. 
E) The mandate held little appeal among ordinary Chinese. D

Question 3

Term for identification: Shang Dynasty

Accepted Answer

The Shang Dynasty, also known as the Yin Dynasty, is one of the earliest recorded dynasties in Chinese history, dating back to the second millennium BCE. It is traditionally dated from approximately 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE. The Shang Dynasty is particularly noted for its advanced bronze casting technology and its development of a form of writing that is the ancestor of modern Chinese characters.

During the Shang era, a highly stratified society emerged, with a king at the top who was considered to be both a political and religious leader. The king was believed to communicate with ancestral spirits and gods to ensure the prosperity and stability of the kingdom. The Shang Dynasty was centered around the Yellow River Valley, and its last capital was at Yin, which is present-day Anyang in Henan Province.

Archaeological discoveries, including royal tombs and oracle bones used for divination, have provided valuable insights into the culture, social structure, and practices of the Shang Dynasty. The oracle bones, in particular, are significant as they contain the earliest known form of Chinese writing and were used by the Shang kings to seek advice from their ancestors on matters ranging from weather to warfare.

The Shang Dynasty was eventually overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty, which led to a new era in Chinese history. Despite its fall, the Shang Dynasty's contributions to Chinese civilization, particularly in the areas of art, writing, and ritual practices, have left a lasting legacy.

Question 4

What was one of the major impacts of the Yellow River flooding?

Accepted Answer

A) The floods provided much-needed water for irrigation, on a regular and easily-managed basis. 
B) It caused massive destruction to Chinese crops regularly, with resultant famines. 
C) The flooding caused political fragmentation, as the people could not agree on the best method for flood control. 
D) It led to the the collapse of the Xia civilization. 
E) The Chinese began the development of major flood control projects, including a vast system of levees. 
A) The floods provided much-needed water for irrigation, on a regular and easily-managed basis. 
B) It caused massive destruction to Chinese crops regularly, with resultant famines. 
C) The flooding caused political fragmentation, as the people could not agree on the best method for flood control. 
D) It led to the the collapse of the Xia civilization. 
E) The Chinese began the development of major flood control projects, including a vast system of levees.

Question 5

Which of these was most valued by Chinese aristocrats of the Zhou Period?

Accepted Answer

A) The use of the Silk Road during the Zhou Dynasty. 
B) Trade and foreign empires, for highly prized fabrics and perfumes. 
C) Trade with their close neighbors. 
D) Silk cultivation and silk-weaving. 
E) The horses they obtained from Central Asian nomads. 
A) The use of the Silk Road during the Zhou Dynasty. 
B) Trade and foreign empires, for highly prized fabrics and perfumes. 
C) Trade with their close neighbors. 
D) Silk cultivation and silk-weaving. 
E) The horses they obtained from Central Asian nomads.

Question 6

Most of the Chinese philosophies arose in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Xia 
B) Hundred Schools Period 
C) Shang 
D) Early Zhou 
E) None of the options are correct. 
A) Xia 
B) Hundred Schools Period 
C) Shang 
D) Early Zhou 
E) None of the options are correct.

Question 7

Term for identification: Zhou

Accepted Answer

The term "Zhou" refers to a significant

Question 8

What would be the best description of the purpose of the group of government officials known as the Mandarins?

Accepted Answer

A) They made and changed laws according to Confucian principles, with or without the support of the Emperor. 
B) They had the task of implementing Confucian laws concerning the family. 
C) They opposed the teachings of Confucius, calling for the acceptance of the ideas of Lao-tsu instead. 
D) They monitored the Emperor to ensure that he governed according to Confucian principles. 
E) They oversaw the implementation of Confucian ideas in the Chinese educational system. 
A) They made and changed laws according to Confucian principles, with or without the support of the Emperor. 
B) They had the task of implementing Confucian laws concerning the family. 
C) They opposed the teachings of Confucius, calling for the acceptance of the ideas of Lao-tsu instead. 
D) They monitored the Emperor to ensure that he governed according to Confucian principles. 
E) They oversaw the implementation of Confucian ideas in the Chinese educational system.

Question 9

Elaborate on the role of geography in Chinese history.

Accepted Answer

Answers would include a discus

Question 10

The ____________________ proved to be China's longest-lived and most formative dynasty.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____________________ proved to be China's longest-lived...

Question 11

What is the best description of the beliefs of the followers of Moism?

Accepted Answer

A) They follow an example of harsh punishment inflicted on the weak. 
B) They want to return to nature. 
C) They believe in the idea of "an eye for an eye" type of reciprocal relationship. 
D) They follow an inconsistent philosophy with no real philosopher. 
E) They follow the Golden Rule of "do unto others". 
A) They follow an example of harsh punishment inflicted on the weak. 
B) They want to return to nature. 
C) They believe in the idea of "an eye for an eye" type of reciprocal relationship. 
D) They follow an inconsistent philosophy with no real philosopher. 
E) They follow the Golden Rule of "do unto others".

Question 12

Why do we know so much more about the Zhou than the Shang?

Accepted Answer

A) There is better archaeological evidence on the Zhou than the Shang. 
B) The Zhou developed extensive literature and written records. 
C) The information came from Confucius and Lao Zi. 
D) The Zhou were wealthier. 
E) The Zhou traded more extensively with outsiders. 
A) There is better archaeological evidence on the Zhou than the Shang. 
B) The Zhou developed extensive literature and written records. 
C) The information came from Confucius and Lao Zi. 
D) The Zhou were wealthier. 
E) The Zhou traded more extensively with outsiders.

Question 13

Term for identification: Yangtze River

Accepted Answer

The Yangtze River, known in China as the

Question 14

What seems to have been the primary purpose of the oracle bones?

Accepted Answer

A) medicinal. 
B) divination. 
C) legal. 
D) agricultural. 
E) literary. 
A) medicinal. 
B) divination. 
C) legal. 
D) agricultural. 
E) literary.

Question 15

The Dao de Jing expounds upon the philosophy of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Dao de Jing expounds upon the...

Question 16

Assess the significance of Confucian philosophy in China. Compare and contrast Confucianism with Daoism, Legalism, and Moism. What are the common denominators of these philosophies?

Accepted Answer

Answers would include Confucia

Question 17

The two important innovations of the Shang Period are writing and ____________________ production.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The two important innovations of the Shang...

Question 18

Term for identification: logographs

Accepted Answer

Logographs, also known as logograms, are

Question 19

Confucius insisted on gentility, the three components of which were ____________________.

Accepted Answer

courtesy,

Question 20

Term for identification: Analects

Accepted Answer

The term "Analects" refers to a collecti

Exam 6: Ancient China to 221 BCE

What was the general status of peasants during the Zhou period?

What was one of the aspects of the idea of the "mandate of heaven"?

Term for identification: Shang Dynasty

What was one of the major impacts of the Yellow River flooding?

Which of these was most valued by Chinese aristocrats of the Zhou Period?

Most of the Chinese philosophies arose in which of the following?

Term for identification: Zhou

What would be the best description of the purpose of the group of government officials known as the Mandarins?

Elaborate on the role of geography in Chinese history.

The ____________________ proved to be China's longest-lived and most formative dynasty.

What is the best description of the beliefs of the followers of Moism?

Why do we know so much more about the Zhou than the Shang?

Term for identification: Yangtze River

What seems to have been the primary purpose of the oracle bones?

The Dao de Jing expounds upon the philosophy of ____________________.

Assess the significance of Confucian philosophy in China. Compare and contrast Confucianism with Daoism, Legalism, and Moism. What are the common denominators of these philosophies?

The two important innovations of the Shang Period are writing and ____________________ production.

Term for identification: logographs

Confucius insisted on gentility, the three components of which were ____________________.

Term for identification: Analects

The Earliest Human Societies

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Africa From Axum to 1400

The Mongols Unify Eurasia

Japan and Southeast Asia

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A Larger World Opens

Religious Divisions and Political Consolidation in Europe

The Gunpowder Empires of Western and Southern Asia

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China From the Ming Through the Early Qing Dynasty

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India and Southeast Asia Under Colonial Rule

European Imperialism and Africa During the Age of Industry

China in the Age of Imperialism

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Modern Science and Its Implications

World War I and Its Disputed Settlement

A Fragile Balance: Europe in the Twenties

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Totalitarianism Refined: the Nazi State

East Asia in a Century of Change

World War II

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Decolonization of the Non-Western World

The New Asia

Africas Decolonization and Independence

Latin America in the Twentieth Century

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Collapse and Reemergence in Communist Europe

A New Millennium

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