What do we know about China?

1. What do we know about China? • Mandate of Heaven • Dynastic Cycle • Previous Dynasties- Shang and Zhou • Importance of Family/Ancestors • Polytheistic- worship of spirits and ancestors • Strong Patriarchy

2. Political History- Qin Dynasty • Qin Dynasty 221-206 B.C.E. • Influential leader-Shi Huangdi • Belief in Legalism • Strict laws and harsh punishments • “When the sage of Qin took charge of his state, he first determined punishments and names, and clearly set forth the ancient regulations. He was the first to standardize the system of laws, examine and demarcate duties and responsibilities, so as to establish unchanging practices.”

3. Political History- Han Dynasty • Han Dynasty 202 B.C.E.- 220 C.E. • Influential leader- Han Wu Di • Belief in Confucianism • Strict roles and duties for each person in society • Filial Piety- obedience to those above you • “If governing derives from moral authority, the people would follow the ruler just as the many stars take their place in the heavens around the stationary pole star.”

4. Ancient China problem solving Qin Ruler Shi Huangdi

5. Threats from the North • Connected existing walls into Great Wall • More than a million people sent to work on it—infamous for the high death toll

6. Legitimizing Your Claim to Power in a Time of Political Confusion • Called himself the leader of united kingdoms of China (China comes from- Qin) • King Zheng called himself “Shi Huangdi,” or First Emperor. • The Annals of Qin, presented Shi Huangdi as a sage—hard-working, noble, famous for eternity, etc., etc. • Imperial palace • Imperial burial tomb—the famous terra cotta warriors

7. Abolished feudalism 36 provinces, three governors in each—one civilian, one military, one to moderate between them Aristocrats moved to capital of Xian to be kept under watchful eye Standardized weights and measures, currency, axle lengths of wagons, the legal system, Chinese script (insuring Mandarin would be the main form of Chinese) Built roads and canals Raised taxes Government Organization

8. Confucian scholars buried alive Constantly moved about Book burning in 213 B.C.E.—all books except those on Legalism, Qin history, agriculture, divination, medicine, and science—Shi Huangdi did keep one copy of each censored book Dealing with Hostile Confucian Scholars

9. China problem solving Han Dynasty- Wu Di

10. Aggressive Nomads to the Northwest • Sent 100,000 man army after Xiongnu • Extended Great Wall 300 miles • Conquered parts of Manchuria, Korea • Never defeated, but kept from raiding north

11. Started Silk Roads Wu Di wanted exotic animals, plants, foods and taxes from trade Conquered and assimilated many cultures along the way Military forts and troops along the way Diffusion of ideas, plants, animals, diseases, religion Foreign Trade

12. Increasing Government Income • Nationalized private enterprise • Government monopolies on iron, salt, and liquor • Confiscated lands of nobility • Sold offices and titles • Fines for crimes • Taxes • Increased taxes on trade for Silk Road • No increase in peasant taxes Han iron furnace

13. Civil Service Examinations Established an elite imperial academy to teach specially selected scholar-bureaucrats Knowledge of Confucian classics basis for civil service 3 day essays Government offices based on merit, not birth Not allowed to serve in own province Government Organization and Bureaucrats