| A | B |
|---|
| loess | a fertile deposit of windblown soil |
| Oracle bone | one of the snimal bones or tortoise shells used by ancient Chinese priests to communicate with the gods |
| Mandate of Heaven | in Chinese history the divine approval thought to be the basis of royal authority |
| dynastic cycle | the historical pattern of the rise, decline and replacement of dynasties |
| feudalism | a political system in which nobles are granted the use of lands that legally belong to their king, in exchange for their loyalty, military service and their protection |
| mandate | a command or instruction from a higher authority |
| mercenary | a soldier who will fight in any army for pay |
| legend | a story handed down from earlier times, especially one believed to be historical |
