Classical ChinaClassical China

What should we know about Classical China?What should we know about Classical China?Ruled by the Qin & Han DynastiesRuled by the Qin & Han Dynasties

What should we already know about China?

Lack of fertile landLack of fertile land LoessLoess Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven Dynastic CycleDynastic Cycle Oracle BonesOracle Bones Fireworks / explosivesFireworks / explosives Think: MulanThink: Mulan FeudalismFeudalism

Chinese DynastiesChinese Dynasties::– ShangShang– ZhouZhou– Qin Qin – HanHan– Tang Tang – SongSong– YuanYuan– MingMing

Qin DynastyQin Dynasty Qin familyQin family ruled China ruled China

from 221-206 BCfrom 221-206 BC Emperor Emperor Shi Huang-diShi Huang-di

was the first emperor of was the first emperor of China.China.

Used Used LegalismLegalism to Rule: to Rule:– Philosophy used by Shi Philosophy used by Shi

Huang-di to rule ChinaHuang-di to rule China– Strict laws and harsh Strict laws and harsh

punishmentspunishments– Executed opposition and Executed opposition and

burned books to prevent burned books to prevent new ideasnew ideas

Shi Huang-di (259-210 BC)was a cruel ruler who readily killed or banished those who

opposed him or his ideas.

Qin DynastyQin Dynasty

Shi Huang-diShi Huang-di standardized standardized Chinese writing, law, Chinese writing, law, currency, weights and currency, weights and measures. measures.

He expanded the Chinese He expanded the Chinese empire, built a system of empire, built a system of roads and massive roads and massive fortifications and palaces. fortifications and palaces.

Shi Huangdi buried himself Shi Huangdi buried himself with a life size, clay army. with a life size, clay army. This army was dubbed the This army was dubbed the Terra Cotta SoldiersTerra Cotta Soldiers. . Great Wall: The emperor connected

and extended the old walls along the north of China to prevent nomadic invasions.

Han DynastyHan DynastyImportant Political FactsImportant Political Facts:: Han family ruled 202 BC until Han family ruled 202 BC until

A.D. 220A.D. 220 Adopted Adopted ConfucianConfucian

principles, rather than principles, rather than Legalism, to rule China. Legalism, to rule China.

Civil Service SystemCivil Service System: : selected government officials selected government officials based on merit; schools were based on merit; schools were set up to train government set up to train government officials;officials;

The Chinese population increased to over 60 million under the reign of Han rulers. This huge population required a strong bureaucracy to meet the needs of the people. Many farmers suffered because of the lack of available farmland.

Founded by a peasant, Founded by a peasant, Liu BangLiu Bang

Emperor Emperor Han WudiHan Wudi expanded the expanded the

territories ruled by China.territories ruled by China.

Han DynastyHan Dynasty–– Golden Age Golden Age

Contributions:Contributions:– Textile manufacturingTextile manufacturing– Water mills = grainWater mills = grain– Iron castingIron casting– PaperPaper– Rudders improved Rudders improved

shippingshipping– Confucian schoolsConfucian schools– ArchitectureArchitecture– Silk Road = Cultural Silk Road = Cultural

DiffusionDiffusion– SilkSilk

New technology added to the economic prosperity of the Han era. Contributions made during this time improved trade,farming, and manufacturing.

Decline of the Han DynastyDecline of the Han Dynasty

Weak rulers Weak rulers Centralized Centralized

Government began to Government began to declinedecline

Nobles controlled most Nobles controlled most of land, limiting the of land, limiting the opportunities for small opportunities for small farmers. farmers.

Nomadic invasionsNomadic invasions Peasant UprisingsPeasant Uprisings CorruptionCorruption Civil WarsCivil Wars

Qin Dynasty vs. Han DynastyQin Dynasty vs. Han DynastyVenn

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