Tang and Song Dynasty

Bureaucracy

• system of many government officials following government rules and regulations

• the customary code of polite behavior in society

• the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions

• a formal or official record of scientific experimental observations

Scholar-official

• placing a greater emphasis on reading and study than on technical or practical work

• highly educated person who passed civil service examinations and worked in the government

• a specialist in a particular branch of study

• a person who is highly educated or has an aptitude for study

Merit System

• the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward

• the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another

• system in which people are hired and promoted based on talent and skills rather than wealth or social status

• the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs

Urbanization

• characteristic of the countryside rather than the town

• characteristic of a town or city

• movement of people from urban to rural areas

• movement of people from rural to urban areas

Money Economy

• an economic system in which money is used rather than bartering to buy and sell goods

• exchange of goods or services for other goods or services without using money

• an act of exchanging one thing for another

• a road junction designed on several levels so that traffic streams do not intersect

Nomad

• unchanging in condition

• to establish in residence

• a person who moves from place to place, often in search of water and vegetation

• incapable of being moved

Khan

• relating to ancient barbarians

• a native or inhabitant of Mongolia

• Mongol ruler

• the language of the Mongols

Despot

• a cruel and oppressive ruler

• a ruler with total power over a country, typically one who has obtained control by force

• favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority

• a ruler who holds absolute power

Tribute

• payment or gift to a strong power

• an award involving special praise

• something regarded as a rare opportunity

• the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles

Smuggler

• a rod, groove, or blade on which something slides

• person who trades illegally

• a long, narrow rug or strip of carpet, especially for a hall or stairway

• a fast-swimming fish of the jack family, occurring in tropical seas