Over time, the Chinese would expand the civil service exam to include subjects such as agriculture, law, history, and many other topics. The civil service exam created one of the most enduring systems of government in all of human history. The Chinese empire lived on for over 2000 years. That's ten times older than the United States!

Historians point to the civil service exam as one of the first examples of a meritocracy. Although it was mainly wealthy and privileged people who could afford to study for and pass the exams, Chinese history is full of stories of people rising from humble beginnings to positions of high power due to the exam system.

For your final activity go to your notes and write reflective answers to the following questions:

Which system is better for choosing leaders, the examination system or the practice of electing officials through voting?

Which country is a better example of a meritocracy (in other words, which system allows the most skilled/intelligent/talented people to rise to the top), the United States or Ancient China?