The River Valley Civilisation: Chinese Civilisation

Women worked only within the house

Step 1: Ancient Chinese society was structured in a strict hierarchy. Step 2: The king was at the top, followed by noblemen, merchants, craftsmen, farmers, and slaves. Step 3: Family was considered a sacred unit and the head of the family was given great respect. Step 4: As described in the textbook, women in ancient China worked only within the house. Step 5: They did not hold public roles, government positions, or work as merchants. This reflects the traditional and patriarchal nature of ancient Chinese society.

Shang Ti

Step 1: Like other ancient civilisations, the Chinese worshipped forces of nature. Step 2: They also worshipped a supreme god. Step 3: This god was called 'Shang Ti', which means 'Lord of Heaven'. Step 4: Confucius and Lao-tze were great thinkers and founders of philosophical systems, not gods worshipped as Lord of Heaven. Step 5: Buddha was the founder of Buddhism, a separate religion. Therefore, Shang Ti is the correct answer.

Lao-tze

Step 1: Two important philosophical and religious systems developed in ancient China. Step 2: These were Taoism and Confucianism. Step 3: Taoism emphasises a natural and simple way of life and was founded by Lao-tze. Step 4: Confucianism is a system of ethical teachings founded by Confucius — a different philosopher. Step 5: Shang Ti was a god, and Emperor Qin was a ruler — neither founded Taoism. So the correct answer is Lao-tze.

Tea

Step 1: Agriculture was the main occupation of the Chinese, and they grew many crops. Step 2: Among all their crops, one was grown first in China and spread to other countries much later. Step 3: The Chinese were the first in the world to cultivate tea. Step 4: The cultivation of tea in other countries began only in the 18th century, thousands of years after China started. Step 5: Rice, wheat, and soyabean were also grown in China, but none of these are specifically noted as being cultivated first by China in this context.