Question 1

The existence of which item found in the tombs at Anyang, pictured here, is evidence of the role of sacrifice in a king's burial? 
A) Chariots
B) Grave goods
C) Pottery
D) Various pieces of jade

Accepted Answer

The presence of chariots in the tombs at Anyang suggests that they were buried as part of a sacrificial ritual, as it was believed that the king's horses and chariots would accompany him into the afterlife.

Question 2

According to texts found in Shang royal tombs, what important role did Shang kings fulfill?
A) They were also philosophers.
B) They were considered to be gods.
C) They were the dynasty's most important merchants.
D) They were military chieftains.

Accepted Answer

According to texts found in Shang royal tombs, Shang kings played an important role as military chieftains.

Question 3

Which of the following facilitated communication between China, Vietnam, and Japan?
A) Japan, Korea, and Vietnam adopted the Chinese script for writing.
B) All three societies used the same spoken language.
C) Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and China developed a common sign language.
D) All three used the same phonetic script for writing.

Accepted Answer

Japan, Korea, and Vietnam adopted the Chinese script for writing, which allowed for easier communication and cultural exchange between the three countries. This adoption of the Chinese script is known as Sino-Xenic vocabulary. While they did not use the same spoken language or sign language, the use of the same script allowed for greater accessibility to each other's literature, philosophy, and religious texts.

Question 4

Which of the following is a true statement about the underground tombs built for Shang kings?
A) All were constructed from wood and few exist today.
B) They were quite simple compared with those of other ancient civilizations.
C) Their contents reveal that the Shang practiced human sacrifice.
D) The coffins indicate that bodies of nobility were partly mummified.

Accepted Answer

The contents of the underground tombs built for Shang kings, including human sacrifices, indicate that the Shang practiced human sacrifice. This is evidenced by the discovery of tombs with remains of servants and animals that were believed to serve the deceased in the afterlife.

Question 5

According to Map 4.1, "The Geography of Historical China," what geographic feature was likely very important to many Neolithic settlements? 
A) Access to the sea
B) Close proximity to mountains
C) Access to the Korean peninsula
D) Nearness to river ways

Accepted Answer

According to Map 4.1, many Neolithic settlements were located near river ways, such as the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. This is likely due to the importance of water for agriculture and transportation.

Question 6

How was the Chinese system of writing similar to that in Egypt and Sumer?
A) All three were logographic systems.
B) Each symbol in all three systems represented a spoken syllable.
C) Each of the three was an early alphabetical system.
D) It was impossible to express abstract concepts in any of the three systems.

Accepted Answer

All three systems were logographic, meaning that each symbol represented a whole word or concept, rather than individual sounds or letters.

Question 7

In Shang culture, what was a taotie?
A) A priest who lived in a temple
B) A message intended for a god
C) A tool used to write
D) A stylized animal face image

Accepted Answer

In Shang culture, a taotie was a stylized animal face image that often appeared on bronze vessels as decorative motifs.

Question 8

The development of more complex forms of social organization in Shang China coincided with the mastery of what skill?
A) Shipbuilding
B) Pottery making
C) Silk weaving
D) Metalworking

Accepted Answer

The development of more complex forms of social organization in Shang China coincided with the mastery of metalworking. This allowed for advancements in weaponry, chariots, and other technologies, giving the ruling class a significant advantage over their subjects and neighboring communities.

Question 9

What was Anyang?
A) An ancient legal philosophy
B) A mythical Chinese ruler
C) The Shang capital for more than two centuries
D) A vision of the unity of nature

Accepted Answer

Anyang was the Shang capital for over 200 years during the Bronze Age in China. It was an important center of Shang Dynasty culture and politics.

Question 10

What was right outside the central core of Anyang?
A) Merchants' shops
B) Farms
C) Temples
D) Industrial areas

Accepted Answer

The answer of What was right outside the central core...

Question 11

In addition to leading his kingdom, what other important role did the Shang king fulfill?
A) He controlled all trade.
B) He was a master of the healing arts.
C) He served as the high priest.
D) He was considered a reincarnation of Di.

Accepted Answer

The Shang king served as the high priest, performing important religious rituals and communicating with the gods on behalf of his people. He was seen as the intermediary between the human and divine realms.

Question 12

What was the predominant agricultural activity in the Yangzi River basin?
A) Wheat farming
B) Rice farming
C) Cotton farming
D) Vegetable farming

Accepted Answer

Rice farming was the predominant agricultural activity in the Yangzi River basin, as the climate and natural conditions in the region were well-suited for rice cultivation. Rice was a staple food for the people in the region, and the development of irrigation systems and terraced fields helped to increase productivity.

Question 13

Approximately when did the Chinese begin to practice agriculture?
A) 9000 B.C.E.
B) 5000 B.C.E.
C) 1000 B.C.E.
D) 750 B.C.E.

Accepted Answer

The Chinese began to practice agriculture around 9000 B.C.E., with the domestication of plants such as millet and rice in different regions, marking the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities.

Question 14

Which of these was an important source of revenue for Shang kings?
A) Import taxes
B) War booty
C) Religious tithes
D) Sales taxes

Accepted Answer

War booty was an important source of revenue for Shang kings, as they frequently waged wars against neighboring tribes and used the spoils of war to enrich themselves and their kingdom. Import taxes and sales taxes were not mentioned as significant revenue sources in Shang society, and while religious tithes may have been collected, they were not specifically noted as a major source of income for the kings.

Question 15

How did the development of China compare with that of India and Mesopotamia?
A) China engaged in much more long-distance trade with other civilizations.
B) China had many more cultural breaks in its history.
C) China had no written language.
D) China had little contact with other people in Eurasia.

Accepted Answer

China's geographical location and natural barriers, such as mountains and deserts, led to relatively limited contact with other civilizations in Eurasia compared to regions like Mesopotamia and India, which were more accessible for trade and cultural exchange.

Question 16

Where did the Shang kings obtain the slaves that provided them with one of their most important sources of revenue?
A) They were often men and women taken as war captives.
B) They were people who were in debt to the king.
C) They were orphans who were taken by the king and sold into slavery.
D) They were the king's former concubines, who were often sold into slavery.

Accepted Answer

The Shang kings obtained slaves for revenue by taking men and women as war captives.

Question 17

Which Chinese dynasty was the first to have writing, cities, and metalworking?
A) Xiongnu
B) Shang
C) Zhou
D) Yangzi

Accepted Answer

The Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) was the first dynasty in Chinese history to have writing, cities, and metalworking. They are also known for their advances in bronze casting and oracle bone inscriptions.

Question 18

Shang warriors' weapons were tipped with what?
A) Iron
B) Steel
C) Bronze
D) Bone

Accepted Answer

Shang warriors used weapons tipped with bronze, as the Shang Dynasty was known for its use of bronze in weaponry and other purposes. While iron became more widely used in later Chinese dynasties, it was not as commonly used during the Shang period. Steel was not yet invented during this time. The use of bone in weaponry was more common in prehistoric periods, rather than during the Shang Dynasty.

Question 19

How is the dominant soil type in the Yellow River basin, loess, best defined?
A) Hard-packed earth difficult to dig into
B) An iron-rich soil with a reddish tint
C) A loose, wind-driven soil that is easy to till
D) A loose, sandy soil that is not very fertile

Accepted Answer

The dominant soil type in the Yellow River basin is loess, which is a loose, wind-driven soil that is easy to till. Loess is formed by fine dust particles that were deposited by winds during the last Ice Age, and it is typically found in areas that were covered by glaciers or ice sheets. It is known for its fertility and is used extensively for agriculture in the Yellow River basin.

Question 20

From what material were the tools of Shang farmers made?
A) Bronze
B) Stone
C) Iron
D) Wood

Accepted Answer

Shang farmers primarily used tools made of stone, as bronze was typically reserved for weapons, ceremonial items, and artifacts for the elite, while iron usage was not widespread until later periods.

Quiz 4: Chinas Classical Age, to 221 Bce

The existence of which item found in the tombs at Anyang, pictured here, is evidence of the role of sacrifice in a king's burial?

According to texts found in Shang royal tombs, what important role did Shang kings fulfill?

Which of the following facilitated communication between China, Vietnam, and Japan?

Which of the following is a true statement about the underground tombs built for Shang kings?

According to Map 4.1, "The Geography of Historical China," what geographic feature was likely very important to many Neolithic settlements?

How was the Chinese system of writing similar to that in Egypt and Sumer?

In Shang culture, what was a taotie?

The development of more complex forms of social organization in Shang China coincided with the mastery of what skill?

What was Anyang?

What was right outside the central core of Anyang?

In addition to leading his kingdom, what other important role did the Shang king fulfill?

What was the predominant agricultural activity in the Yangzi River basin?

Approximately when did the Chinese begin to practice agriculture?

Which of these was an important source of revenue for Shang kings?

How did the development of China compare with that of India and Mesopotamia?

Where did the Shang kings obtain the slaves that provided them with one of their most important sources of revenue?

Which Chinese dynasty was the first to have writing, cities, and metalworking?

Shang warriors' weapons were tipped with what?

How is the dominant soil type in the Yellow River basin, loess, best defined?

From what material were the tools of Shang farmers made?