Classical China What should we know about Classical China?  Ruled by the Qin & Han Dynasties

What should we already know about China?  Lack of fertile land  Loess  Mandate of Heaven  Dynastic Cycle  Oracle Bones  Fireworks / explosives  Think: Mulan  Feudalism  Chinese Dynasties: –Shang –Zhou –Qin –Han –Tang –Song –Yuan –Ming

Qin Dynasty  Qin family ruled China from BC  Emperor Shi Huang-di was the first emperor of China.  Used Legalism to Rule: –Philosophy used by Shi Huang-di to rule China –Strict laws and harsh punishments –Executed opposition and burned books to prevent new ideas Shi Huang-di ( BC) was a cruel ruler who readily killed or banished those who opposed him or his ideas.

Qin Dynasty  Shi Huang-di standardized Chinese writing, law, currency, weights and measures.  He expanded the Chinese empire, built a system of roads and massive fortifications and palaces.  Shi Huangdi buried himself with a life size, clay army. This army was dubbed the Terra Cotta Soldiers. Great Wall: The emperor connected and extended the old walls along the north of China to prevent nomadic invasions.

Han Dynasty Important Political Facts:  Han family ruled 202 BC until A.D. 220  Adopted Confucian principles, rather than Legalism, to rule China.  Civil Service System: selected government officials based on merit; schools were set up to train government officials; The Chinese population increased to over 60 million under the reign of Han rulers. This huge population required a strong bureaucracy to meet the needs of the people. Many farmers suffered because of the lack of available farmland.  Founded by a peasant, Liu Bang  Emperor Han Wudi expanded the territories ruled by China.

Han Dynasty– Golden Age  Contributions: –Textile manufacturing –Water mills = grain –Iron casting –Paper –Rudders improved shipping –Confucian schools –Architecture –Silk Road = Cultural Diffusion –Silk New technology added to the economic prosperity of the Han era. Contributions made during this time improved trade, farming, and manufacturing.

Decline of the Han Dynasty  Weak rulers  Centralized Government began to decline  Nobles controlled most of land, limiting the opportunities for small farmers.  Nomadic invasions  Peasant Uprisings  Corruption  Civil Wars

Qin Dynasty vs. Han Dynasty Venn Diagram