1. Classical China: Qin and Han Dynasties

2. Zhou Dynasty ( BCE)

3. Qin Dynasty ( BCE)
Era of Warring States: seven competing kingdoms
Shihuangdi (r BCE) defeated others and became “first emperor”
Advanced army, elaborate bureaucracy
Used Legalism to rule empire
Standardized weights, measures, currency, axle lengths
Began construction of the Great Wall, canals
Written Chinese language

4. Qin Dynasty ( BCE)

5. Legalism Political philosophy used by Shihuangdi
The state, law, and the position of the ruler had ultimate authority
Rules were made public
Strict rewards and punishments were enforced
Viewed soldiers and farmers as only essential members of society

6. Mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi

7. Mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi
Built between BCE
Possessions were meant to accompany the emperor into the afterlife
6,000 terracotta warriors
Booby traps
Workers were buried inside the tomb

8. Mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi

9. Han Dynasty (206 BCE-221 CE)
Civil war erupted after Shihuangdi’s death
Han dynasty founded by Emperor Gaozu
Capital at Chang’an
Readily assimilated non-Chinese people
Emperor Wu (r BCE)
Confucianism became official government philosophy
Nationalized salt and iron industries
Repelled nomadic Xiongnu from the north

10. Han Dynasty (206 BCE-221 CE)

11. Imperial Bureaucracy
Emperor Wu established the Imperial University to train officials
Different levels of examinations to enter the bureaucracy
Exams based on Confucian writings, math, literature, history
Officials selected due to merit and morality over wealth and status
Favored wealthy families who could afford intensive schooling for their sons
Bureaucratic officials gained power, prestige

12. Confucianism Confucius (551-479 BCE) Five unequal relationships
Philosopher and government official
Saw the family as the ideal basis for government
Social harmony occurred by following example of superiors
Five unequal relationships
Ruler to ruled
Father to son
Husband to wife
Elder brother to younger brother
Friend to friend

13. Confucianism Moral example of superiors should guide action
Education led to moral betterment
Cultivated ren: benevolence, goodness
Harmonious family life was essential
Reverence of ancestors
Filial piety: Honor of one’s parents and ancestors

14. Patriarchy and Confucianism
Balance in the cosmos
Heaven (male) and earth (female)
Virtues for ideal men
Wen (rationality, scholarship)
Wu (physical and martial ability)
“Three Obediences” for women
Father
Husband
Son

15. Daoism Founded by Laozi (ca. 6th century BCE)
Encouraged withdrawal to nature
Rejection of formal education, political and social involvements
Dao: the way, the path
Simplicity in living, limited government
Yin (dark, female) and yang (light, male): complementary forces, unity in opposites

16. Han Society Emperor Aristocracy Scholar-gentry Farmers Artisans
Rich landowners
Scholar-gentry
Developing class who become bureaucrats
Farmers
Vast majority of Chinese population
Artisans
Merchants
Viewed as materialistic, profiting from others

17. Peasant Farmers in Han China
Majority of Chinese population were small farmers
Crippled by high rents to large landowners, military service and state-mandated labor, natural disasters
Wang Mang (r CE)
Overthrew Han dynasty
Outlawed slavery, equally distributed all land
Yellow Turban Rebellion ( CE)
Flooding of Yellow River
360,000 peasants rebelled

18. Han Economy and Science
Standardized coin money created by the imperial mint
Silk Roads connected China to trade with India, Middle East, and the Roman Empire
Beginnings of papermaking industry
Negative numbers, seismograph

19. Decline and Fall of the Han Dynasty
Empire became too big to maintain
Court eunuchs and aristocracy fought for power
Large landowning families gained power
Yellow Turban Revolt ( CE)
Frequent invasions by northern nomads

20. Shang-Han Dynasties