China 7.2

Lesson #2 Chinas First Civilizations

Section #1 Life in Ancient China

Question # 1

What do you call a group of people that share a similar position in society?Answer: A social class

Question # 2What are the three levels main parts of Chinas social class system?Answer: Landowning aristocratsPeasant farmersmerchants

Question # 3 Approximately what percent of people were farmers in Ancient China?Answer: About 90% (9 out of 10)

Question # 4 What were three of Chinas main crops?Answer: Wheat, rice and millet

Question # 5 Why did aristocrat landowners in China own LESS land than their fathers and grandfathers?Answer: Each generation would divide the land into parts for their sons to own.

Question # 6Why did farmers have to give part of their crops to the aristocrats?Answer: The aristocrats owned the land that the farmers grew the crops on.

Question # 7 What occupations made up the merchant class in Chinas society?Answer: Shopkeepers, traders and bankers

Question # 8Why did people have large families in China?Answer: They needed many people to work on the farms.

Question # 9 What did farmers do in order to be able to use the land on the mountainside for farming?Answer: Built terraces

Question # 10What do you call the flat areas cut into the sides of mountains (like steps) that help keep the soil from eroding?Answer: terraces

Question # 11 How else did terraces help farmers?Answer: The farmers used the water from the terraces to water the crops.

Question # 12Who was valued more in Chinese society, men or women?Answer: men

Question #13What does the term filial piety mean?Answer: Children had to respect their parents and older relatives and do what the head of the family wanted.

Question # 14Who was the head of the family in China?Answer: The oldest male

Question #15Who would take over if the head of the family passed on?Answer: The next oldest male

Section #2 Chinese Thinkers

Question # What event caused the Chinese people to seek ways to make their society more peaceful?Answer:The Period of the Warring States

Question # What were the 3 major theories that Chinese thinkers developed in order to create a peaceful society?Answer:Who was Chinas first great thinker and teacher?

Question # This philosophy taught that all men with a talent for governing should take part in government.Answer:Confucianism

Question # Which Chinese philosophy believed that people should put the needs of their family and community first?Answer:Confucianism

Question # Which philosophy believed that people should give up worldly desires in favor of nature and the Dao?Answer:Daoism

Question # Which Chinese philosophy believed that society needed a system of harsh and strict punishment?Answer:Legalism

Question # What is another name for Daoism?Answer:Taoism

Question # Which Chinese philosophy was developed by Laozi?Answer:Daoism

Question # Which Chinese philosophy was developed based on the teachings of Hanfeizi?Answer:Legalism

Question # Which Chinese philosophy taught that humans were naturally evil.Answer:Legalism

Question # Which Chinese philosophy did the aristocrats like the best?Answer:Legalism

Question # Why did aristocrats like Legalism?Answer:It favored using force and power and did not expect rulers to show kindness or understanding.

Question # What are the three major theories about how to create a more peaceful society in China?Answer:Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism.