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Dynasties of China

Dynasties of China. East Asian Studies 2011. Zhou Dynasty. Around 1045 B.C.E Shang overturned Western Zhou 1045-771 B.C.E. Eastern Zhou/Warring States 771-256 B.C.E. First evidence of the Mandate of Heaven “Son of Heaven” – ruler

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Dynasties of China

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  1. Dynasties of China East Asian Studies 2011

  2. Zhou Dynasty • Around 1045 B.C.E Shang overturned • Western Zhou 1045-771 B.C.E. • Eastern Zhou/Warring States 771-256 B.C.E. • First evidence of the Mandate of Heaven • “Son of Heaven” – ruler • As cities grew, the Zhou built roads and canals to supply them, these turned into stimulated trade and agriculture. • The Zhou dynasty introduced coin money, which further improved trade. • Iron was used to create weaponsand tools.

  3. Zhou Dynasty • Zhou kings were monarchs, but had no power to enforce obedience • Vassals would not be loyal War in the Zhou Period • Two sides agree on time and place • Sacrifices before battle • Will not attack if the ruler had died • Ruling houses not wiped out • Honor as important as winning

  4. Warring States Period • Qi, Qin and Chu most powerful states • Unhappy sons excluded from rule would look for allies in other states • Dukes started calling themselves kings to signal means to rule

  5. Hundred Schools of Thought • Chaos led to many ideas of how to bring stability • Confucius • Daoism • Legalism

  6. Qin Dynasty 221-206 B.C.E. • First empire of China • United many states and regions • Centralized bureaucratic government

  7. Qin Dynasty Beginnings • LüBuwei • Rich merchant rose to become regent for King Cheng (age 13) • Recruited scholars to Qin • Mixture of Daoist and Confucian rule

  8. The First Emperor • King Cheng becomes Shi Huangdi- “First Emperor” • Sent LüBuwei away, later committed suicide • Li Si, a legalist, became chancellor, helps organize newly conquered states

  9. Qin Reforms • Nobles were forced to leave their states and move to the capital, Xianyang • Officials appointed by the Emperor ruled the provinces • These men were controlled by regulations, requirements and punishments

  10. Qin Reforms • Standardized writing, weights, measurements, coinage, and even cart axle widths • WHY? • Not allowed to carry weapons

  11. Qin Reforms • Roads built for armies • Expanded canals to connect rivers

  12. Qin Legalism • Shi Huangdi suspected intellectuals, burned thousands of ancient writings • 3 assassination attempts • Qin set up “neighborhood watch” programs to inform on criminals

  13. Qin Punishments • Hard labor • physical mutilation (branding, cutting off body parts), • Banishment • Slavery • Death (torn apart by horse drawn chariots)

  14. Threats to the North • Xiongnu • Pastoral nomads in steppes • Organized by families/clans • Originally driven out by Qin, but gain power as dynasty declines • One of the reasons for building the Great Wall

  15. Fall of Qin Dynasty • Shi Huangdi died 210 BCE, younger son becomes emperor, executes brothers • Executes Li Si (Legalist) in favor of chief eunuch • Legalist institutions unravel, uprisings throughout empire

  16. Han Dynasty • 206 BCE – 220 CE • Liu Bang is victor of rebellions and gains power • Came from a modest family • Takes name of Emperor Gao高祖 (r. 202-195 BCE)

  17. Han Dynasty • Kept centralized government • Eliminated some harsher laws • Cut taxes • Gave out some fiefs (land grants) to relatives and friends –which he later realized was a mistake

  18. Han Dynasty • Xiongnu remained a threat, eventually gave tributes (bribes) of silk, grain, etc. • Even princesses as brides • Controversial policy

  19. Han Government • Emperor in theory all-powerful • Depended on chancellor and other high officials • Nine ministries for state ritual to public works • Officials graded by rank and salary, appointed by merit • Local officials—magistrates and grand administrators (governors) Collected taxes, judged lawsuits, commanded troops, flood control

  20. Han Government • Main tax of 120 coins on adults • Children were less • Adults also owed a month of labor each year • Could be public works or military service • Low land tax (one-thirtieth of harvest)

  21. Empress  Lü • Empress Dowager (widow of emperor) ruled for the next 15 years. • Her son, Emperor Hui, was too weak to rule • Painted as cruel, spiteful, vicious • After her fall her entire family was wiped out

  22. Emperor Wu (r. 141-87 BCE) • Came to throne as a teenager • Encouraged many developments in the Han Dynasty • Arts, culture, government • Expanded empire

  23. Business in Han Dynasty • Heavy taxes on merchants (which had always been mistrusted) • Shops, boats, carts all taxed • Government monopolies established for salt, iron and liquor • Gov’t took over grain to stabilize prices

  24. Chinese Society in Han • Common Farmers • Bulk of population • Gov’t tried to keep farmers independent and productive • Two-bladed plow invented • Many farmers fell into debt, become tenants • Some sold wives and children as slaves to pay off debt

  25. Chinese Society in Han • Elite Groups • Merchants and manufacturers • Gave loans • Still despised despite their wealth • Gentry or scholar class (shi) • Gov’t officials • Educated in Confucianism

  26. The Family in Han • Patrilineal • Closely connected to Confucian teachings • Bride join husbands family • Filial piety • Respect for elders and ancestors

  27. 221 - 581 (AD) • Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t • Non-Chinese nomads control much of China • Buddhism becomes popular - Confucianism failed

  28. Tang (618 - 907 AD) • High point of Chinese culture • Rebuilt bureaucracy • Examination system • Confucian education • Limited social mobility • Buddhism supported, then oppressed • Invention of movable print, porcelain, gun powder

  29. Civil Service Exam Highest are those who are born wise. Next are those who become wise by learning. After them come those who have to toil (work) painfully in order to acquire learning. Finally, to the lowest class of the common people belong those who toil painfully without ever managing to learn.

  30. Civil Service Exam • According to Confucius, who are the second highest in society? 2. According to Confucius, who are the third highest in society?

  31. Tang (618 - 907 AD) • Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese history Decline • Weak emperors, nomadic incursions, economic difficulties • Warlords take control

  32. Song (969 - 1279 AD) • Large centralized bureaucracy (Neo-Confucian) • Mercantile class grows, increased trade • Magnetic compass, growing sea power • Weak military

  33. Yuan (1279 - 1368 AD) • Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China • FIRST NON-CHINESE DYNASTY • Economic stability and prosperity • China more open to trade and travel (Marco Polo) • Ignored Chinese traditions, replaced bureaucrats with non-Chinese • Unsuccessful attacks on Japan, corruption weakens dynasty • Peasant rebellion ends Yuan

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