| A | B |
|---|
| emperor | the ruler of an empire |
| silk | a textile made from the cocoons of silkworms |
| terra cotta | a fire baked clay |
| barter | to exchange goods |
| oracle bone | an animal bone used to consult with the many gods worshipped by the Shang people |
| maritime | relating to the sea |
| dynastic cycle | the pattern of the rise and fall of dynasties in ancient and early China |
| bureaucracy | a system of government in which appointed officials in specialized departments run the various offices |
| isolate | cut off from the rest of the world |
| caravan | a group of people that travels together |
| filial piety | the belief that children owe their parents and ancestors respect |
| cultural diffusion | the process by which cultures interact and idea spread from one area to another |
| dynasty | a series of rulers from the same family |
| peasant | a poor farmer |
