AP World History Exam : China Latest

AP World History Exam : China ( Latest – )

Actual Questions and Answers ( Verified Answers )

1. Describe the stages in Chinese dynastic cycle. (dynasty): family that passed

imperial title from generation to generation. When dynasty grew weaker & tax revenues declined>social divisions>internal rebellions &sometimes invasions. As ruling dynasty declined, another emerged, usually from family of a successful general, invader, or peasant rebel & pattern would repeat. Many Chinese view history in terms of cycles, in contrast to Western view of steady progress from past to present.

• Describe the political structure of the Zhou dynasty (1029-258 B.C.E.) that

displaced the Shang rulers.: The Zhou didn't establish a powerful government; ruled through alliances with regional princes /noble families. Rulers couldn't con- trol territories directly>gave regional estates to members of their families & other supporters who were to provide central government with troops & tax revenues. = China's feudal period:rulers depending on network of loyalties & obligations to & from their landlord-vassals.

• What caused the decline of the Zhou?: regional land-owning aristocrats increased

their power base/disre¬garded central govt.

• Identify/significance: Middle Kingdom: Zhou extended territory of China- took

Yangtze River valley from Huanghe R. to Yangtze R. =China's core— the "Middle Kingdom." >wheat-growing in north, rice-grow¬ing in south>pop. growth.Communication/transport from capital to out-lying regions difficult>>Zhou relied so heavily on loyalty of regional supporters.

• Identify/significance: Mandate of Heaven (Sons of Heaven): Zhou rulers claimed

direct links to Shang rulers & asserted heaven had transferred its mandate to rule China to Zhou emperors =key justification for Chinese imperial rule from Zhou 1 / 2

onward. These "Sons of Heaven" lived in world of awe-inspiring pomp/ceremony.

• How did the Zhou provide greater cultural unity in their empire?: promoted linguistic

unity>> standard spoken language (Mandarin Chinese) in Middle Kingdom =largest single group of people speaking same language in world at this time. Re- gional dialects/languages remained; educated officials began to rely on Mandarin.Oral epics/stories in Chi¬nese> gradually recorded in written form>development of common culture.

• Identify/significance: Confucius: During late 6th/early 5th centuries B.C.E.,

Confucius wrote statement on political ethics= core of China's distinctive philo¬- sophical heritage. Other writers/religious leaders participated in this great period of cultural creativity>>which later =set of central beliefs throughout Middle Kingdom.

• Identify/significance: Era of the Warring States: Regional rulers formed

independent armies reduc¬ing emperors to little more than figureheads. Between 402 -201 B.C.E. (Era of the Warring States) the Zhou system disintegrated.

• Identify/significance: Shih Huangdi (Qin): regional ruler who deposed last Zhou

emperor & made himself ruler of China. He took the title Qin Shi Huangdi, or First Emperor. The dynastic name, Qin >conferred on whole country=China.

• Describe the policies and achievements of Shih Huangdi in the Qin Dynasty.

(Great Wall): Shi Huangdi =brutal,effective ruler amid internal disorder. China's problem= regional power of aristocrats. He ordered nobles to leave their regions & appear at his court>he took control of their estates. China was organized into large provinces ruled by bureaucrats appointed by emperor Shi Huangdi. He chose officials from nonaristocratic groups so they would owe their power to & not develop independent bases. His power¬ful armies crushed regional resistance. To guard against barbarian invasions, Shi Huangdi built a Great Wall, extending over 3000 miles & wide enough for chariots= largest construction project in human history; built by forced labor from the peasantry.

• Describe the innovations in Chinese politics and culture during the Qin dynasty.:
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