Chapter 15: The
Political Development
of Imperial China
Guiding Question: Which method of selecting officials led
to the best leaders for China?
Name:
Due Date:
Period:
Complete
Sentences!
Vocabulary
Complete the chart below for the vocabulary terms for this chapter.
Term
Emperor
Imperial
Dynasty
Bureaucracy
Warlord
Aristocracy
Civil Service Examination
Meritocracy
Definition
Preview
Suppose that you had to choose someone, like a friend or
relative, to make a decision for you. This person might
need to make decisions about important issues such as
your finances or your future. Which of these people would
you trust most to make a decision for you?
• Someone from another country
• Someone who is rich
• Someone who is considered an excellent student
Explain the reasons for your choice in the space below:
Section 15.2: The Government of Imperial China
1. According to the Mandate of Heaven, when can people overthrow the emperor?
2. How did bureaucracy corruption bring about the end of the Han rule?
3. When the Han dynasty lost the Mandate of Heaven, what happened? Who reunited
China?
Section 15.3: Aristocracy: The Tang Dynasty
1. Who were scholar-officials?
2. The examination for scholar-officials was mainly based on what
body of knowledge?
3. During the Tang dynasty, why did aristocrats continue to hold
most government jobs?
Section 15.4: The Song Dynasty
1. According to emperors and scholars, knowledge of the ideas of Confucius would
produce what type of government official?
2. How did the process of becoming a government official change during the Song
period?
3. Why did people in medieval China want government jobs?
Section 15.5: Government by Foreigners: The Period of Mongol Rule
1. Why did Kublai Khan end the system of civil service exams?
2. Whom did Kublai Khan choose to fill important government positions?
3. What happened to Chinese scholars under
Mongol rule?
Section 15.6: The Revival of the Civil Service System
1. After reading this section, complete the T-chart below by adding at least three details
that support the statements in each column.
Hiring Scholar-Officials
Helped China
Hiring Scholar-Officials
Hurt China
For sections 2, 3, 4, and 5, draw a simply symbol for the term or concept you believe is the
most important. Label the symbol if necessary
Section
2
3
4
5
Symbol