Which civilization believed in the dynastic cycle and the mandate of Heaven and was isolated by mountains and the Gobi Desert to the north?

Which civilization believed in the dynastic cycle and the mandate of Heaven and was isolated by mountains and the Gobi Desert to the north?

• A. Ancient Egypt
• B. Ancient China
• C. Judaism
• D. Islam

Answer: (B)

The dynastic cycle and the Mandate of Heaven are ideas that come from ancient China. The dynastic cycle describes how a new dynasty rises, brings peace and prosperity, then weakens and is eventually replaced by a new dynasty. The Mandate of Heaven is the belief that heaven grants emperors the right to rule, but can take that right away if rulers become corrupt or fail to govern well, justifying a rebellion and replacement. This civilization was famously isolated by mountainous barriers and the Gobi Desert to the north, which helped keep cultural development centered in that region and contributed to a distinct political and philosophical approach. That combination of political ideas and geographic isolation points to Ancient China.

The dynastic cycle and the Mandate of Heaven are ideas that come from ancient China. The dynastic cycle describes how a new dynasty rises, brings peace and prosperity, then weakens and is eventually replaced by a new dynasty. The Mandate of Heaven is the belief that heaven grants emperors the right to rule, but can take that right away if rulers become corrupt or fail to govern well, justifying a rebellion and replacement. This civilization was famously isolated by mountainous barriers and the Gobi Desert to the north, which helped keep cultural development centered in that region and contributed to a distinct political and philosophical approach. That combination of political ideas and geographic isolation points to Ancient China.