The Emperor’s Clay Army China Lesson 3

Vocabulary Emperor Province Shihuangdi (Shee hwahng dee) Qin (Chin) Qinling Mountains chin ling) Xianyang ((she AHN yang) Great Wall of China Vocabulary

Read Aloud “In 1974 farmers living near the southern curve in the Huang Rive began digging a new well. Imagine their surprise when they began to uncover life-sized clay soldiers! Archaeologists were called to the site. Since that day an entire clay army ---more than 8,000 soldiers, horses, and chariots –has be unearthed. No two of the soldiers look alike. Each one once help a real weapon to fight off some unknown enemy. Who built this amazing clay army and why?” (p. 168)

The Big Picture Shang Dynasty ended in 1100B.C. Years of turmoil Qin began to build up Qin’s ruler ordered building of a great clay army Real battle in 221B.C. he led a read army to control the Huang River delta All of northern China conquered Qin general declared himself China’s emperor renaming himself Shihuangdi, The “First Grand Emperor” saying the Qin dynasty would last 10,000 years

Timeline 1100 B.C. Shang Dynasty came to an end 1100 – 221 BC - turmoil 221 B.C.-- Army controlled Huang River delta -- First emperor of China- Shihuangdi 210 B.C. – Death of Shihuangdi Peasants and nobles revolt

The Rise of an Empire Geography was important in the victory and control of the empire Protected by the Qinling Mountains on one side Protected by the Huang River on the other Soldiers marched out and expanded the empire

A New Kind of Government Shihuangdi Formed 36 provinces (political divisions of land) Let farmers own land Weakened the power of the nobles Forced nobles to move to the capital city of Xianyang Took away their bronze weapons Devised on system of writing Local political leaders reported to the capital with this writing method Method of recording and collecting taxes Single system of bronze coin money which could be strung for the entire empire.

Farmers Build the Empire A united China expanded in land and from tax money Money came from the farmers Highways linking cities were built by the farmers Strengthen and connect walls in the northern steppes to keep invaders from the north out which will later evolve into the great Wall of China, 1500 miles long Farmers ”were the backbone of the Qin Empire” (p. 170): farmers, builders, soldiers. Lives centered on seasonal floods Fed the emperor with their crops of rice, wheat and other items.

Building the Emperor’s Tomb Shihuangdi’s Tomb Surrounded by 8,099 clay soliders Had a map of Chinese empire with rivers, mountains To have protection in the after-life 221 BC Baked the clay to form individual soldiers Chinese Empire Mercury in the soil

Think About It What qualities were probably admired in the first emperor? What were probably feared? Took away the nobles’ weapons Gave the farmers land which also gave them power Nobles should fear farmers who are more numerous and have weapons Made coins with holes in them to string Recognized the importance of the farmer; power Writing system Artist value of the terra cotta warriors How was Shihuangdi able to gain control over China? Protected by the Huang River Protected on other side by Qinling Mountains Kk kk 1. How did farmers make Shihuangdi’s Empire strong? Employed as soldiers They owned land Fed the empire and the emperor