Questions and Answers
Which of the following best describes the Xia?
The Shang government can best be described as a
Chinese writing became an art called
What led to the fall of the Shang Dynasty?
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What is the belief that spirits inhabit everything?
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According to Chinese legend, the man who slept for 18,000 years and then created the universe was ________.
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The Shang dynasty was eventually overthrown by the
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Which of the following is the term that best describes variations within languages?
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Which of the following was not used during the Shang Dynasty to improve agriculture?
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During the Shang Dynasty, a 12-month calendar was developed based on the ________.
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What is the system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials?
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What are oracle bones?
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What are dialects?
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What is calligraphy?
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What was the Xia Dynasty?
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What was the Shang Dynasty?
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What was the Zhou Dynasty known for?
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Study Notes
Xia Dynasty
- Described as a society of farmers, marking early agricultural development in China.
- Legendary dynasty, traditionally dated from 2070 BC to 1600 BC.
- Recorded in the "Records of the Grand Historian" and unofficial "Bamboo Annals" detailing 17 kings over 14 generations.
Shang Dynasty
- Existed from 1600 BC to 1046 BC, capital located in present-day Anyang.
- Known for a highly developed social structure and advancements in writing and bronze usage.
- Bureaucratic government system managed through appointed officials.
- Fell due to being overthrown by the Zhou Dynasty, as people believed they lost the Mandate of Heaven.
Writing and Language
- Calligraphy emerged as an esteemed art form representing beautiful handwriting.
- Dialects represent variations within a language, influenced by social class and recognition as a literary language.
- Oracle bones used for medicinal inquiries and later recognized for ancient Chinese writing around 1899.
Agriculture and Calendar
- Shang Dynasty's agriculture benefitted from irrigation systems and the use of horses; steel plows were not utilized.
- Developed a 12-month lunar calendar based on the movements of the moon.
Chinese Mythology
- Pangu is the legendary figure who created the universe after sleeping for 18,000 years.
Zhou Dynasty
- Chronologically followed the Shang Dynasty, traditionally dated from 1122 to 221 B.C.
- Noted for intellectual achievements, the rise of Confucianism and Taoism, and oldest known Chinese literature.
- Although it lasted the longest of any dynasty in Chinese history, its actual political and military control was primarily during the Western Zhou period.
Animism
- Belief system present in the Shang Dynasty wherein spirits were thought to inhabit all things.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Ancient China with this quiz! Explore topics such as the Xia, Shang government, and the art of Chinese writing. Challenge yourself and see how much you know about this fascinating era in Chinese history!
