Chapter 23: The Han Dynasty

The Chinese invented the magnetic compass to show which way was south. What was their earlier reason for wanting to know directions?

• to know the best time to plant their crops

• to foretell what would happen in the future

• to position buildings correctly for good fortune

Compared with the Qin dynasty, the Han Dynasty...

• was much smaller.

• lasted much longer.

• had much worse rulers.

• had far fewer inventions.

What new technology most helped the Han in warfare?

• invention of the wheel

• advances in working iron

• steam-powered riverboats

• improvements in gunpowder

What Han invention did the Chinese use for the military purpose of sending messages and frightening the enemy?

• scroll

• kite

• crossbow

• fish-scale armor

Which of these men would most likely be hired for the Han bureaucracy?

• one who did well on an exam

• one who was born in the capital

• one who had an important family

• one who inherited a lot of money

How did the Han emperors gradually change the way China was ruled?

• They returned most power to local nobles.

• They put more emphasis on family connections.

• They moved from Legalism to Confucian ideals.

• They punished people who tried to spread Daoist beliefs.

The chain pump increased harvests by helping farmers...

• move heavy goods

• plow the soil

• bring water up to their fields

• store grain so it would not spoil

What change made silk production more efficient?

• a kind of tree that was better for silkworms

• an invention that wound fibers onto a large reel

• a road on which trade goods could be carried safely

• a law that all farmers must weave for one month a year

Which tool did ancient Chinese scribes use for writing?

• a reed

• a brush

• a stylus

• a feather

What did the Chinese write on before they invented paper?

• silk and bamboo

• hides and leather

• seaweed and straw

• tree bark and leaves