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2026 Ancient China Study Guide Review

Total questions: 47

Worksheet time: 43mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Vocab: a group of rulers from the same family




(a)  

2.

Vocab: a set of beliefs about how to live

(a)  

3.

Vocab: first emperor and leader who unified China, ruled through Legalism, and standardized laws, language, currency, and measurements




(a)  

4.

Vocab: a philosopher who believed living a simple, flexible, and harmonious life led to happiness




(a)  

5.

Vocab: Chinese river that often floods; AKA “Yellow River”

(a)  

6.

Vocab: a group of trade routes that connected China to other parts of Asia and the west

(a)  

7.

Vocab: China’s earliest written records that shared predictions for the future




(a)  

8.

Vocab: a philosophy that focuses on harmony, simplicity, and non-interference




(a)  

9.

Vocab: longest Chinese river that runs through central China; AKA “Yangtze River”




(a)  

10.

Vocab: first teacher in Chinese history who believed education and ethical behavior improved society




(a)  

11.

Vocab: the belief that a ruler’s power comes from a divine force and can be lost




(a)  

12.

Vocab: a wall built along the northern border to defend China, protect trade routes, and symbolize strength




(a)  

13.

Vocab: emperor who supported the lower classes, made Confucianism the official philosophy of China, and opened the Silk Road




(a)  

14.

Vocab: respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors




(a)  

15.

Vocab: a harsh desert with extreme temperatures and many natural resources that covers much of Northern China




(a)  

16.

Vocab: belief that people must be controlled with a strong leader and legal system

(a)  

17.

Vocab: a framework for creating a stable and peaceful society based on respect and ethics that influenced government and culture




(a)  

18.

Vocab: when a single person or group controls the supply and production of a good or service, eliminating competition




(a)  

19.

Vocab: the belief that every natural thing in the universe has a soul




(a)  

20.

True or false: the geography of ancient China made it easy for people within its borders to interact, but it made it difficult for them to interact with those outside China's borders.

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Why is the Huang He sometimes called "China's Sorrow"?

a)

The river flows quickly and causes many accidents.

b)

Huang He translated into English means "China's Sorrow."

c)

The river has flooded many times and killed a lot of people.

d)

The river is polluted and causes illness to anyone who drinks it.

22.

Which religion/philosophy believes in the idea of Yin and Yang?

a)

Confucianism

b)

Daoism

c)

Buddhism

d)

Legalism

23.

According to Confucianism, which relationship was the most important to maintaining social harmony in China?

a)

Teacher and student

b)

Ruler and citizens

c)

Parent and child

d)

Husband and wife

24.

Which of the following is both a philosophy AND a political idea?

a)

Buddhism

b)

Confucianism

c)

Legalism

d)

Daoism

25.

What caused the big change in belief systems in Ancient China?

a)

Traveling missionaries came from other civilizations and shared their religions.

b)

People wanted to learn how to improve their lives, even during times of chaos, war, and unhappiness.

c)

The government announced that all citizens would be changing their religions to match that of their ruler.

d)

People had never had religion in China before and learned about it from India.

26.

True or false: Confucianism focused on religious ideas such as gods, prayer, afterlife, etc.

a)

True

b)

False

27.

Daoism focuses on which concepts? Choose all that apply.

a)

Being okay with change

b)

Finding balance

c)

Working hard to improve the community

d)

Giving up concerns and connecting with nature

e)

Putting community over self

28.

Which religion/philosophy believed that people are inherently evil, selfish, and lazy?

a)

Buddhism

b)

Daoism

c)

Confucianism

d)

Legalism

29.

True or false: the government worked hard to keep workers safe while working on the Great Wall of China.

a)

True

b)

False

30.

The original goal of the Great Wall was to ​ (a)   . It was later used to ​ (b)   .

Choose from the below words
defend China against invaders
protect merchants along trade routes
31.

Why did many rulers use oracle bones?

a)

Oracle bones helped rulers make political decisions.

b)

Oracle bones help arrange marriages between royals.

c)

Oracle bones predicted the weather.

d)

Oracle bones told rulers which citizens were planning rebellions.

32.

Why is Qin Shi Huangdi considered an important figure in world history? Choose all that apply.

a)

He was the first emperor of China.

b)

He made Confucianism the official religion of China.

c)

He standardized measurements, money, and laws.

d)

He ordered the building of many massive projects.

e)

He started the Silk Road.

33.

Why is Wu of Han considered an important figure in world history? Choose all that apply.

a)

He got rid of harsh Legalistic practices and lowered taxes.

b)

He was paranoid due to multiple assassination attempts.

c)

He helped create an exam to make sure that only capable people were hired, regardless of status.

d)

He extended trade out of China's borders which increased China's relations with outside civilizations.

34.

What building project was meant to protect Qin Shi Huangdi in the afterlife?

a)

Great Wall

b)

Silk Road

c)

Terracotta Army

d)

Great Tomb of China

35.

"Qin Shi Huangdi" translates to

(a)  

36.

What crops grew well in China? Choose all that apply.

a)

Rice

b)

Apples

c)

Wheat

d)

Millet

e)

Oranges

37.

What goods did China have a monopoly on?

a)

Rice, wheat, and millet

b)

Tea, paper, and gunpowder

c)

Jade, bronze, and silver

d)

Silk, salt, and iron

38.

True or false: the Silk Road ran from China to Rome.

a)

True

b)

False

39.

What was a negative about the Silk Road?

a)

The environment was destroyed by so many people taking the same path.

b)

It wasn't actually made of silk, making it worthless in China.

c)

The amount of people using it increased the spread of disease.

d)

The climate around the Silk Road caused many flash floods that destroyed trade items.

40.

True or false: social classes were based on a person's worth to society, not wealth or power.

a)

True

b)

False

41.

H: ​ (a)  

L: ​ (b)  

E: ​ ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
Taklamakan
Gobi
Himalayas
Qinling
Tian Shan
Greater Khingan
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Huang He
42.

I: ​ (a)  

D: ​ (b)  

M: ​ ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
Taklamakan
Gobi
Himalayas
Qinling
Tian Shan
Greater Khingan
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Huang He
43.

J: ​ (a)  

A: ​ (b)  

G: ​ ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
East China Sea
Qinling
Huang He
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Yellow Sea
Tian Shan
Pacific Ocean
Greater Khingan
44.

A: ​ (a)  

C: ​ (b)  

B: ​ ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
East China Sea
Qinling
South China Sea
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Huang He
Tian Shan
Pacific Ocean
45.

H: ​ (a)  

B: ​ (b)  

M: ​ ​​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
Taklamakan
Gobi
Greater Khingan
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Huang He
Qinling
Tian Shan
46.

G: ​ (a)  

K: ​ (b)  

F: ​ ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
East China Sea
Qinling
South China Sea
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Yellow Sea
Tian Shan
Pacific Ocean
Greater Khingan
47.

E: ​ (a)  

L: ​ (b)  

I: ​ ​ (c)  

Choose from the below words
Taklamakan
Himalayas
Qinling
Gobi
Greater Khingan
Xi Jiang
Chang Jiang
Huang He