5.4.

1  Study: State Consolidation and Imperialism in East Asia Study Guide

World History Honors Sem 1 Name:  
Date:  

Use this study guide to keep track of the important concepts covered in this activity. If you need help
answering any of the questions, check with your instructor. Save these study guides for review when
preparing for quizzes and tests.

Write the definition to each of the key terms below.

Word Definition

Great Wall of China (ca. 600s BCE – ca. 1600s CE) A series of fortifications built by
various Chinese ruling dynasties in order to defend Chinese territories
against invasion.

Manchu A people who successfully invaded China in the 1600s. They

established a dynasty that lasted until the 1900s.

Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644) A Chinese dynasty that created peace and prosperity in
China while allowing artistic and scientific achievements to flourish.
The dynasty was especially noted for its expansion of commerce
throughout Asia and Africa.

Neo-Confucianism A philosophy that merged basic elements of Confucianism and

Buddhism. Perhaps the most important early Neo-Confucianist was
Zhu Xi (1130 – 1200).

Qing dynasty (1644 – 1912) The last imperial dynasty of China. It oversaw the
decline of China to European imperialism.

Yuan dynasty (1271 – 1368) An empire established by Kublai Khan, a leader of the
Mongol Empire. The Yuan dynasty is considered to have been both a
part of the Mongol Empire and an imperial Chinese dynasty. It
followed the Song dynasty and came before the Ming dynasty.

Write a short answer to each question.

1. How did the Ming dynasty differ from the Yuan dynasty?

The Yuan dynasty was part of the Mongol Empire, which conquered China. Because the Yuan dynasty
had no ethnic ties to China, it suppressed Chinese culture. The Ming dynasty was ethnically Chinese and
promoted Chinese literature and philosophy. It also emphasized the teachings of Neo-Confucianism and
repaired China's canal system.

2. What were the achievements of the Ming dynasty?

The Ming dynasty overthrew the Yuan dynasty, strengthened the Great Wall of China, embraced Neo-
Confucianism, and controlled areas of Vietnam and Burma (modern-day Myanmar).

3. What led to the downfall of the Ming dynasty?

The Ming emperors spent more time enjoying luxuries than taking care of government. That allowed
corrupt government officials to steal from the treasury. Pirates sailed along Chinese coasts, and
eventually the peasants revolted.

4. What were the policies of the Ming and Qing dynasties toward the rest of the world?

Both were isolationist and strictly limited trade and other interactions with Europe. They felt China was
the world's greatest power and didn't see what any other culture could offer them.

5. What influence did Chinese culture have on Japan?

China and Japan traded with each other, and Japan adopted many Chinese traditions but maintained
many of its own. Japan was powerful enough to avoid being treated as badly as Korea.

Expand your thinking on questions raised in this activity.

6. How do you think the Age of Exploration might have been different if China had not stopped its
transoceanic voyages?

Answers will vary. Below is one way you may have answered.

The voyages of Zheng He were very successful and increased China's influence. If China had kept
exploring, it might have been the one to "discover" the New World. If that had happened, the history of
the Americas might have been very different. Perhaps so many among the native populations wouldn't
have died, and if the Chinese rather than the Europeans had established colonies, the Atlantic slave trade
might not ever have happened. On the other hand, if China and different European powers had wanted
colonies in the Americas, they might have gone to war with one another.

7. How do you think the civil service exam system helped China?
There are different ways to answer. One way appears below.

The civil service exam allowed men who scored well on it to serve the government. This meant the best
and the brightest men wound up working for the government, which made it stronger.

In one to two sentences, write the "big idea" or main point of this study.

The Ming and Qing dynasties unified China, kept it safe from foreign invaders, and created a stable,
wealthy society. They also isolated it from the rest of the world, which ultimately might not have been a
good thing.

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