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Quizzes > History

Terracotta Army to Tang: East Asian dynasties quick check

Quick, free East Asian dynasties quiz. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Brian WalshUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Chinese dynasty symbols and timeline on dark blue background for East Asia empires quiz

This dynasties quick check helps you place major East Asian dynasties in order and recall key events from Qin to Tang. Then see related topics with the order of Chinese dynasties, test trade and ideas in the Zhou dynasty quiz, and review routes in the Silk Road Han dynasty.

Which dynasty is traditionally considered the first in ancient Chinese history?
Shang
Qin
Zhou
Xia
The Xia dynasty is traditionally regarded as the first dynasty in Chinese history, though its existence is partly semi-legendary. It is credited with establishing hereditary monarchical rule and early bronze casting. Archaeological finds at Erlitou have been linked to the Xia period.
Which dynasty first unified China under a centralized imperial rule in 221 BCE?
Han
Shang
Qin
Zhou
The Qin dynasty, under Qin Shi Huang, ended the Warring States period and unified China in 221 BCE. It established a centralized bureaucracy and standardized writing, weights, and measures. The dynasty's name is the origin of the modern word "China."
Which dynasty saw the widespread invention and use of paper in administration and culture?
Tang
Han
Song
Ming
Paper was invented during the Eastern Han dynasty by Cai Lun around 105 CE. It revolutionized record-keeping, education, and literature throughout China and eventually the world. The Han dynasty's bureaucratic needs spurred its adoption across government offices.
Which dynasty is responsible for building the majority of the surviving sections of the Great Wall of China?
Ming
Tang
Qin
Han
While earlier walls existed, the Ming dynasty reconstructed and extended the Great Wall to its current form between the 14th and 17th centuries. They used brick and stone, fortifying against northern invasions. These surviving sections are the most visited today.
During which dynasty did the Silk Road flourish, connecting China with Central Asia and Europe?
Tang
Yuan
Han
Song
The Silk Road trade routes began to flourish under the Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE), promoting silk exports to Central Asia and the West. The Han state provided protection and infrastructure to caravans. This exchange also facilitated cultural and technological transfers.
Which dynasty succeeded the Song dynasty after the Mongol conquest?
Ming
Qing
Tang
Yuan
After the Mongol conquest of China, Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty in 1271, officially replacing the Song dynasty in 1279. The Yuan integrated Mongol and Chinese administrative practices. It marked the first non-Han dynasty to rule all of China.
What was the name of the capital city during the Tang dynasty, one of the largest cities in the world at the time?
Kaifeng
Luoyang
Hangzhou
Chang'an
Chang'an (modern Xi'an) was the capital of the Tang dynasty and a major cultural and commercial hub. It was one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities of its era. The city's grid layout influenced many East Asian capitals.
Which dynasty is renowned for popularizing blue and white porcelain that became a major export item?
Qing
Yuan
Ming
Tang
While blue and white porcelain began under the Yuan, it was perfected and massively produced during the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644). The technique used cobalt-blue pigment under a clear glaze. Ming porcelain became a highly prized export in Europe and the Islamic world.
Which dynasty standardized the imperial civil service examination system to select government officials?
Song
Tang
Sui
Han
The Sui dynasty (581 - 618) formalized and standardized the civil service examinations, creating a merit-based path to officialdom. This system was expanded by the Tang and Song dynasties. It shaped Chinese bureaucracy for over a millennium.
Which dynasty was established by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan in China?
Liao
Yuan
Qing
Ming
Kublai Khan proclaimed the Yuan dynasty in 1271 and completed the conquest of the Southern Song by 1279. The Yuan unified China under Mongol rule. It integrated Mongol military structures with Chinese administration.
The Tang dynasty is often considered the "Golden Age" of which art form?
Music
Ceramics
Painting
Poetry
The Tang dynasty (618 - 907) produced masters like Li Bai and Du Fu, whose poetry had profound influence on Chinese literature. Poetry was integrated into court life and civil service exams. The era's creative freedom fostered enduring works.
Under which dynasty did Neo-Confucianism emerge as the dominant state ideology?
Tang
Song
Ming
Han
Neo-Confucianism crystallized during the Song dynasty (960 - 1279), synthesizing Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist ideas. Thinkers like Zhu Xi systematized ethics and cosmology. The ideology guided governance and education thereafter.
Which dynasty's maritime expeditions were led by the admiral Zheng He?
Ming
Qing
Yuan
Song
Zheng He commanded seven major voyages between 1405 and 1433 under the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty. His fleets visited Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. The voyages showcased Ming naval power and expanded tributary relations.
During which dynasty did the Taiping Rebellion occur, significantly weakening the imperial rule?
Song
Ming
Qing
Yuan
The Taiping Rebellion (1850 - 1864) took place during the Qing dynasty and was one of the deadliest civil wars in history. Led by Hong Xiuquan, it aimed to overthrow the Manchu rulers. Its suppression drained Qing resources and accelerated decline.
Which dynasty constructed the Terracotta Army to guard its first emperor in the afterlife?
Tang
Qin
Han
Zhou
The Terracotta Army was created to accompany Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, in his mausoleum around 210 BCE. Thousands of life-size figures represent soldiers, horses, and chariots. It reflects Qin artistic and military organization.
The An Lushan Rebellion, one of the deadliest conflicts in history, took place during which dynasty?
Yuan
Tang
Song
Han
The An Lushan Rebellion (755 - 763) erupted during the mid-Tang dynasty when General An Lushan rebelled against Emperor Xuanzong. It devastated northern China and weakened Tang authority. The conflict is considered one of the deadliest pre-modern wars.
Which dynasty was the first to issue paper money as a state-backed currency in China?
Qing
Ming
Tang
Song
The Song dynasty (960 - 1279) introduced jiaozi, the world's earliest government-issued paper money. This innovation facilitated commerce and tax collection. It emerged as China's economy and urbanization expanded.
The tribute system, a framework for foreign relations, was most formalized during which dynasty?
Qing
Tang
Ming
Han
While earlier dynasties used tributary practices, the Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644) formalized the system, regulating trade and diplomacy through tributary missions. Tributary states acknowledged Chinese suzerainty in exchange for protection and trade rights.
The collapse of which dynasty led directly to the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period?
Song
Yuan
Han
Tang
When the Tang dynasty fell in 907 CE, China fragmented into multiple regimes, initiating the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This era was marked by rapid dynastic turnover and regional rivalries. It preceded the reunification under the Song.
Which dynasty established the Protectorate of the Western Regions to control trade and military defenses in Central Asia?
Qin
Tang
Han
Yuan
The Western Han dynasty created the Protectorate of the Western Regions in 60 BCE to secure the Silk Road trade routes and defend against nomadic incursions. It extended Chinese political influence into Central Asia.
Under which dynasty did the Manchu rulers implement the banner system to organize society and the military?
Ming
Qing
Sui
Yuan
The Qing dynasty (1644 - 1912) was ruled by the Manchus, who organized their people into eight banners - military and social units - each represented by a colored flag. The system structured recruitment, land allocation, and governance.
Liu Bang, the founder of one of China's major dynasties, was the first emperor of which dynasty?
Zhou
Tang
Han
Song
Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu to establish the Han dynasty in 202 BCE, taking the throne as Emperor Gaozu. The Han dynasty lasted over four centuries and is considered a golden age in Chinese history.
The Grand Canal, connecting the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, was completed under which dynasty?
Yuan
Sui
Han
Tang
The Grand Canal was massively expanded and completed under the Sui dynasty (581 - 618). It linked northern and southern China, enabling grain shipments to feed the capital and facilitating political control. This engineering feat remains one of ancient China's greatest public works.
The "Da Ming Lü" or the Great Ming Code, one of the most comprehensive legal codes in Chinese history, was promulgated in which dynasty?
Qing
Tang
Song
Ming
The Great Ming Code was compiled and promulgated under the Ming dynasty in 1397 during the reign of the Hongwu Emperor. It systematized criminal, administrative, and civil law. The code influenced subsequent legal systems in East Asia.
The political doctrine of the "Mandate of Heaven", used to justify the rule of Chinese emperors, was first articulated during which dynasty?
Xia
Qin
Zhou
Shang
The Zhou dynasty (c. 1046 - 256 BCE) formulated the Mandate of Heaven to justify their overthrow of the Shang. It held that heaven granted dynastic legitimacy based on virtuous governance. This concept underpinned dynastic cycles in Chinese history.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Dynastic Sequence -

    Understand the chronological order of major Chinese dynasties, reinforcing your grasp of East Asia's imperial timeline through our dynasties quick check quiz.

  2. Recall Key Events -

    Recall defining moments and achievements of each dynasty, from Han innovations to Qing reforms, enhancing your historical retention.

  3. Differentiate Imperial Legacies -

    Distinguish unique political and cultural characteristics of each dynasty, enabling deeper insight into their lasting impacts.

  4. Analyze Historical Impact -

    Analyze how dynastic shifts shaped social, economic, and technological developments in East Asia empires trivia contexts.

  5. Evaluate Knowledge Mastery -

    Assess your performance with immediate quiz feedback, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in this chronological dynasties quiz.

  6. Apply Memory Techniques -

    Apply mnemonic strategies while taking the Chinese dynasties quiz to bolster recall of emperors, events, and dates for future study.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Chronological Dynasties Mnemonic -

    Break the list of 11 major dynasties into three chunks: Pre-imperial (Xia, Shang, Zhou), Early Empire (Qin, Han, Sui, Tang), and Late Empire (Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing). Create a mini-phrase for each chunk - e.g., "Xia's Shiny Zebras," "Quick Hornet Swarms," "Sailing Your Mighty Qing" - and combine them to nail any chronological dynasties quiz in minutes. This grouping trick is widely taught at institutions like Cambridge and Nanjing University to master the chronological dynasties quiz.

  2. Key Innovations Across Dynasties -

    Focus on hallmark inventions like paper (Han, 2nd c. BCE), woodblock printing (Tang, 7th c. CE), the compass and gunpowder (Song, 11th - 12th c. CE), and porcelain export systems (Ming - Qing). Jot down dates and dynasty names in a simple table - it helps in fast-paced bursts of the dynasties quick check. Universities such as Yale and Fudan offer free online resources listing these major technological milestones.

  3. Mandate of Heaven & Dynastic Cycle Theory -

    Understand the Mandate of Heaven concept: a ruler kept power as long as Heaven approved, explaining both the rise of dynasties and their inevitable declines. Recall the four stages - Founding, Prosperity, Corruption, Collapse - as an "F-P-C-C" formula to predict patterns in your historical dynasties test. This model stems from classical Confucian texts and is a core framework in East Asia empires trivia.

  4. Major Cultural and Administrative Reforms -

    Review transformative policies like Qin Shi Huang's legalist centralization, the Han civil service exams, Tang's equal-field system, Song's merit bureaucracy, and Ming's maritime expeditions. A timeline chart with reforms vs. dynasties will boost your score in any Chinese dynasties quiz by showing overlaps and shifts. Top academic journals (e.g., Journal of Asian Studies) highlight how these shifts shaped governance models still relevant today.

  5. Tributary System & Foreign Relations -

    Learn how dynasties managed border tribes and foreign states via the tribute system - especially under the Tang, Ming, and Qing - which is a frequent question in East Asia empires trivia. Note key treaty events like the Treaty of Nerchinsk (1689) under Qing for a concrete example of Sino-Russian diplomacy. Mapping these interactions on a simple world map helps in your historical dynasties test to link geography and policy.

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