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Imperial China

Explore the rise of the Qin Dynasty under Qin Shi Huang and its harsh rule, followed by the softer governance and expansion under the Han Dynasty, encountering challenges and economic growth. Learn about rulers, policies, reforms, the Great Wall, and the Silk Road.

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Imperial China

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  1. Imperial China Unit 11

  2. Previously in China Zhou ruled China since the early 1100s BCE, declined around 400 BCE and began the warring states period. Warring states period: several small states battling for control. Qin (CHIN) rose to power on China’s western frontier. Chinese historian: swallowing them up “as a silkworm devours a mulberry leaf”.

  3. The Qin Dynasty In 221 BCE the last rival fell and the Qin become the first dynasty to unify Chinese empire. Qin Shi Huang China’s 1st Emperor. Made sense out of the chaos.

  4. Harsh Qin Rule Two advisors: Hanfeizi and Li Si Founded the school of legalism (taught that a powerful and efficient government was key to maintaining order and control over an empire) Reject Confucianism Rulers should be strong and govern through force b/c people were naturally bad Built a strong centralized government Took the land of rival nobles and forced them to move to his capital. Confiscated all personal weapons and Suppressed criticism (burned books) divided China into 36 districts

  5. The Qin Dynasty Qin Reforms Policies unified and strengthened China Standardized laws, writing, coins and weights and measures Other: building projects, improved irrigation system, roads and canals (taxes and forced labor) Qin Growth and Defense Fierce tribal nomadic warriors to the north. Built the Great Wall of China for defensive purposes. (later lengthened and rebuilt) Fought armies to the south and subdued them as far as Vietnam. Qin dynasty crumbled after Shi Huangdi’s death Peasants and nobles rebelled Liu Bang defeated the Qin forces and founded the Han dynasty

  6. The Han Dynasty Ruled from 206 BC to AD 220 Model for later dynasties The main population of China still calls itself the Han people.

  7. Restoring Control Ruled with the mandates of heaven Softened the harsh policies and lowered taxes Practical and effective ruler Brought back Confucianism Liu Band had no education Appointed confusion scholars to advise him. also maintained some Legalist policies Continued strong centralized government Expanded the bureaucracy: an organized a body of appointed officials who oversaw the government

  8. Empress Liu Band died and one of his wives took control while her son was too young to rule. The son died and she put numerous infants named emperor to maintain power Empress Lu died in 180 BCE and officials and princes had the entire Lu family murdered. This often became common in Chinese courts and made it difficult to rule effectivly

  9. The Greatest Han Emperor Wudi ruled from 141 to 87 BC Greatest of all Han rulers Promoted economic growth, new roads and canals, monopolies (salt, iron, alcohol, silk) Took away land from large landowners and placed limits on merchants to decrease their power. Confucianism became the government philosophy Developed a civil service system (candidates for government jobs had to pass an exam in the Confucian classics) Only the wealthy could afford schooling and wealthy remained in power

  10. Expansion under Wudi Known as the Martial Emperor (for expanding the empire by force. Threat: Xiongnu nomands (lived in the grasslands, horse skills and fierce warriors) Gifts and marriages to keep peace but had to use force to protect China from raids Military colonized parts of Korea, Manchuria, Vietnam and Central Asia ( established trade routes with markets as far as the Roman Empire.)

  11. Han Decline Crisis in 9 CE when Wang Mang (rebel) seized throne AD 25 Han regained control of throne and started the Later Han dynasty Problems: weak rulers and gap b/t rich and poor (taxes rose to cover costs, people lost land, less people to tax, taxes rose more) Revolt in 184 by the Yellow Turbans (Daoists) which threw the empire into chaos. led to warlords taking over and the Period of Disunion began(lasted for 350 years)

  12. Resources, The Silk Road, and the Poor Arable land and climate of China made rice growth capable, rice is a labor-intensive crop causing large portions of the population [think 90% of the people] were locked into the peasantry. Chinese had natural resources like jade and silk that are highly scarce and in high demand. only a limited number of artisan and merchant jobs could be sustained even with the wealth which flowed into China along the Silk Road most members of ancient Chinese civilization continued to be peasants.

  13. Trade Basis of economy: agriculture Han Products Ironwork: armor and swords Artisans: pottery, jade, bronze objects and lacquerware Prized product: silk Growth of Trade Zhang Qian: tales led to increase of trade Silk Road

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