Ancient China Key Terms

money used by a group/nation

• Currency
• Bills
• Bucks
• Coins

Answer explanation

Unified currency helped stabilize and expand the economy of Ancient China, facilitating trade within and outside of the empire.

Center of Chinese society

• Family
• Law
• Buddha
• Empire

Answer explanation

Family was the core of society, with Confucian teachings emphasizing respect for elders and strong family bonds.

a fortification 1,500 miles long built across China in the 3rd century BC (Qin Dynasty) to protect from northern invaders.

• Great Wall
• Terra Cotta Warriors
• Silk Road
• Great Falls

Answer explanation

Built to protect China from northern invaders like the Mongols, it symbolized defense, unity, and the power of the empire.

replaced papyrus. 1st made from tree bark, hemp, and old rags.

• Paper
• Papyrus
• Clay Tablets
• Turtlebacks

Answer explanation

Invented during the Han Dynasty, paper revolutionized record-keeping, literature, and communication, contributing to the spread of Chinese culture and bureaucracy.

a network of ancient trade routes, connecting east Asia with the Mediterranean Sea

• Silk Road
• Indus Route
• Himalayan Highway
• Great Wall Turnpike

Answer explanation

This network of trade routes connected China with the West, facilitating cultural, economic, and technological exchanges.

Muddiest river in China with lots of loess.

• Yellow River
• Nile River
• Yangtze River
• Indus River

Answer explanation

Known as the cradle of Chinese civilization, the Yellow River provided fertile land for agriculture, leading to the growth of early Chinese states.

Han Dynasty timeline

• 202 BC-220 AD
• 551-479 BC
• 221-206 BC
• 156-87 BC

Answer explanation

This marks the period of the Han Dynasty, one of China's greatest dynasties, known for its advancements in science, technology, and government.

Confucius' lifetime

• 551-479 BC
• 221-206 BC
• 156-87 BC
• 202 BC-220 AD

Answer explanation

The lifespan of Confucius, whose teachings deeply influenced Chinese philosophy, culture, and government.

invention in China as alternative medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body

• Acupuncture
• Analects
• Herbal Medicine
• Mummification

Answer explanation

Acupunture is an ancient Chinese practice of healing that became an important part of traditional Chinese medicine.

a record of the words and acts of the central Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius

• Analects
• Philosophy
• Confucianism
• Five Relationships

Answer explanation

A collection of Confucius’ teachings and sayings compiled into the Analects, which became a foundational text for Confucianism, influencing Chinese thought and values.