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Zhou Dynasty (1029-258 B.C.E). Expanded the territorial boundaries of China by seizing the Yangtze River valley. This stretch of territory, from Hwang-Ho to the Yangtze, became China’s core—often called the “Middle Kingdom.” Rich cropland.
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Zhou Dynasty (1029-258 B.C.E) • Expanded the territorial boundaries of China by seizing the Yangtze River valley. • This stretch of territory, from Hwang-Ho to the Yangtze, became China’s core—often called the “Middle Kingdom.” Rich cropland. • The Zhou did not set up a powerful central government, ruling instead through alliances with regional princes and noble families.
Zhou Dynasty (1029-258 B.C.E) • This resulted in vulnerabilities to regional disloyalties and the dynasty ultimately declined when regional land-owning aristocrats solidified their own power base and disregarded the central government. • Philosophers sought to explain the confusion. Confucious became the most important. Social and political philosophy became an important doctrine in the Qin and Han dysnasty’s.
Zhou Dynasty (1029-258 B.C.E) • Mandarin became the official state language providing the largest single official language group in the world helping establish cultural unity.
Qin Dynasty (221-202 B.C.E.) • Centralized state rule, which eliminated local and regional political competitors. Brutal but effective emperor. • Expanded the boundaries of China to include Hong Kong and north Vietnam. • Great Wall of China, built by forced labor, largest construction project in history.
Qin Dynasty (221-202 B.C.E.) • Leader instituted a number of innovations in order to build up the power of the central government. • National census = tax revenues and labor service. Standardized coinage, weights, and measures through the entire region. • Very abusive.
Han Dynasty(202 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) • Retained centralized administration but brutal repression was lightened • Expanded territory through peace while embracing more territory and a far larger population. • Peace brought prosperity to China.
Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E.-220 C.E.) • Confucianism was emphasized and seen as a vital supplement to formal government measures; shrines set up to worship the ancient philosopher as a god. • Nomadic invasions (Huns) overturned the dynasty.
Civil Service Exam • Early Han leader, Wu Ti, expanded Chinese territory to set up formal training based on Confucian philosophy for bureaucrats. • Becomes the Scholar-Gentry class. • If you can pass the Civil Service examination, based on Confucian ideals, you could become a bureaucrat.