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Qin Dynasty. Chinas classical age. Shi Huangdi. First emperor Conquered warring states Abolished feudal states Divided China into military districts. His spies reported on officials Divided nobles lands among peasants Peasants paid high taxes. Positives. Standard weights and measures
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Qin Dynasty Chinas classical age
Shi Huangdi • First emperor • Conquered warring states • Abolished feudal states • Divided China into military districts
His spies reported on officials • Divided nobles lands among peasants • Peasants paid high taxes
Positives • Standard weights and measures • Standardized money • Roads and canals for transportation
Negatives • Jailed/killed critics • Targeted feudal nobles & Confucian scholars • Book burning of literature and philosophy
Built great wall • Joined previous walls together • Hundreds of thousands of workers • 25” tall with road on top
Wall extended over centuries • Became symbol • Divided Chinas civilized world from “barbarians”
Collapse of Qin Dynasty • Died 210 BC • Revolts over heavy taxes, forced labor & cruel policies • Illiterate peasant leader defeated armies and began the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty • Wudi - Most famous emperor • Strengthened gov. & econ. • Confucian officials • University at Xian
Improved economy • Improving canals & roads • Granaries for selling grain • Gov. monopoly on iron & salt to reduce taxes
Wudi -The Warrior Emperor • Expanded Chinas borders • Outposts in other parts of Asia • Spread Chinese influence • political marriages for alliances
Opened trade route: silk road • Linked China with west for centuries • exported: silk, jewels, or spices • Imported: grapes, figs, cucumbers & walnuts
Han society • Confucianism made the official belief system of the state • Scholars ran the bureaucracy • Officials required to match the Confucian ideal: courteous, dignified and highly educated
Civil service examinations • Officials got positions on merit • Exams given on local and national level • needed to study Confucian classics, history, poetry and customs based on Confucius • Exams open to all
However: • Only those who could afford years of study could take exam • Occasionally wealthy family would “sponsor” a brilliant peasant boy • Maintained Confucian ideals for 2000 years.
women • Cant take civil service exams • Few women received an education • Role was: obedience and submission
Achievements • Astronomy/time • Technology • Paper • Medicine & acupuncture • Arts and architecture
Collapse of the Han Dynasty • Deterioration of dynasty • Loss of control over warlords • Weak rulers • Heavy taxes • Peasant revolts • Eventually broke into several kingdoms