Ancient China Vocabulary

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Oracle

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A prediction by a wise person

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Lord

Back

A person of high rank who owned land but owed loyalty to his king

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Legalism

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The Chinese belief that people were bad by nature and needed to be controlled

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Peasant

Back

A farmer with a small farm

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Bureaucracy

Back

A body of unelected government officials

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Confucianism

Back

A philosophy based on the ideas of Confucius that focuses on morality, family order, social harmony and government

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Daoism

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A philosophy that developed in China and stressed the belief that one should live in harmony with the Dao, the guiding force of all reality

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Shi Huangdi

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Ruler of China, he united China for the first time. He built roads and the Great Wall of China. Also imposed a standard of laws, money and writing systems

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Diffusion

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The spread of ideas from one culture to another

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Dynasty

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A series of rulers from the same family