1. The Qin Dynasty

2. Qin Dynasty Han Dynasty
221 B.C B.C.
First Emperor
206 B.C. – 220 A.D.
The Most Famous Ruler
Qin Shih Huangdi
Dynasty
Wu Ti
Dynasty
It was short-lived.
It lasted over 400 years.

4. Geography Qin Dynasty Extended Chinese territory to the south
Reached up to present-day Hong Kong on the South China Sea and Northern Vietnam.

5. Trade Maritime Silk Road- origins in the Han dynasty.
The 7000 mile route spanned China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires.
Raw and processes silk transported along the overland silk road.
The maritime routes opened by Emperor Han Wudi provided access to the Roman Empire via India.
Increased the number of foreign merchants present in China

6. War The Yellow Turban Rebellion 184 A.D.
Through Taoism, Zhang Jue began to convince masses of people that the Han rulers had lost the Mandate of Heaven. Subsequently, he called for a full blown rebellion which turned out to be extremely violent and destructive, and eventually lead to the downfall of the Han dynasty.
Chu-Han War 206 B.C.
Liu Bang conquered the troops of the Qin Dynasty. After four years of war Liu Bang defeated his rival and established the Han Dynasty.

7. Agriculture The Emperors encouraged the development of agriculture.
Grew rice, and wheat, and provided salt.
Under Wu Di’s reign the Lou Che was invented, which was used for ploughing and sowing. This saved manual labor.
Silk was invented and was used as currency.

8. Weaponry
Qin Dynasty
Used swords, daggers, billhooks, spears, halberds, axes, crossbow triggers, and arrowheads.
Pi:Double-bladed spear.
Similar to a sword, a short sword.
Shu: Round metal-headed wooden club

9. The Arts The Qin
The arts did not exist in the Qin Dynasty because Emperor Qin Shihuang ordered musical instruments and art forms to be burned. He considered them an unnecessary item in China because it taught people to have their own thoughts.

10. Population Growth & Decline
With the advanced technology, farming flourished more. As farming became more productive, population thus naturally increased.
As the rulers expanded the Chinese territory toward such countries as Korea and Vietnam, population increased as more land was gained.

11. Disease Bubonic Plague
not only decreased population, but also disrupted trade, industry, finance, and society.
European Plagues
spread over the silk roads brought down the Han Empire .
Small Pox, Measles, Chickenpox, and Rubella spread throughout countries through trade.
The East-West trade linking Rome with china through the Silk Road introduced Small pox and measles to China.
Writings were found suggesting that an ancient disease called Leprosy existed. Can be referred to as Leprosy or Syphilis.
May have been introduced into China from India.

12. Migrations Inter-migration within China
As the empire expanded southward into present day Hong Kong, and later further towards Korea, Indochina, and Central Asia, people moved to these new areas as they provided new opportunities for farming, and overall wealth and prosperity.

13. Social Structure Aristocracy & Bureaucracy
Skilled laborers, Iron workers, farmers, etc.
Unskilled laborers
In Han China, there was a three tier social system. At the top of this was the Aristocrats and Bureaucrats, followed by the skilled laborers (iron workers, farmers, etc) and then the unskilled laborers which included people like servants.

14. Gender Structure
Women were subordinate and had their own clearly defined roles.
Women sometimes gained power as mothers in law of younger women brought into the household.
Same gender hierarchy existed among children. Boys > Girls
Considered the head of family, the oldest son who had the most authority other than his father, inherited everything.

15. Literature/Sacred Writings/Writing System
Confucian writing
Several writers elaborated Confucian philosophy during the Han dynasty.
Learning and reciting poetry became significant part of Chinese education
Five Classics: Were used in civil service examinations. Included historical treatises, speeches, and a discussion of etiquette and ceremonies
most commonly used script: Lishu script. They used it because it was faster and more accessible, which they needed for governmental issues.
During the Qin Dynasty, the language was unified as one dialect.

16. Government Structure Shih Huangdi
He provided a single law code for the whole empire
Established a uniform tax system
Appointed governors to each district. These rulers had legal and military powers. They also had their own lower rulers for smaller regions.
Epitome of effective centralized government

17. Family Organization Patriarchal families
Extended family networks through brothers, uncles, grandparents, and others.
The practice of ancestor worship was important to family authority among the affluent landowners.
Village authority was supreme over family rule among the ordinary farmers.

18. Religious Beliefs Buddhism
Buddhism originated in northern India during the 6th century.
Han Buddhism was popular during the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Tai Wu persecuted Buddhism.
Taoism/Daoism
Taoism was popular during the reign of the Han Dynasty.
Under the Qin Dynasty schools of Taoist philosophy began to emerge.
Confucianism
Confucianism was popular during both dynasties.

19. Han China

20. General Info Han Dynasty The Most Famous Ruler Dynasty Wu Ti
206 B.C. – 220 A.D.
Wu Ti
It lasted over 400 years.
Dynasty

21. Geography
Han Dynasty
Extended to Korea, Indochina, and Central Asia.

22. Weaponry Han Dynasty Dao: most widely used weapon.
Have blades and are used to slice, cut, hack and chop.
Qiang (spear): Referred to as the “king of the hundred weapons.”
Jiau (sword): During Han Dynasty, men of high position wore it to show their stature.
Ji (Halberd): a weapon with a steel tip mounted on a long pole. During the Han Dynasty it was replaced by the spear.

23. Social Structure Aristocracy & Bureaucracy
Skilled laborers, Iron workers, farmers, etc.
Unskilled laborers
In Han China, there was a three tier social system. At the top of this was the Aristocrats and Bureaucrats, followed by the skilled laborers (iron workers, farmers, etc) and then the unskilled laborers which included people like servants.

24. They wanted to adapt to Confucian thought, which considered music
Han Dynasty The Arts
Emperors and musicians during the Han Dynasty wished to bring back the arts.
They wanted to adapt to Confucian thought, which considered music
as an intellectual pursuit.
Office of Music (Yuefu) was created to collect the folk music of China
During the Han Dynasty 829 people were employed in three orchestras.

25. Government Structure Han Dynasty
Established 130,000 bureaucrats. Had to take examinations.
Judicial matters were done by local governments.
Military was not extremely strong.
Emphasized Confucian philosophy as an official Chinese values..
Sponsored public works (irrigation/canal systems)
Standardized currency to facilitate trade
Regulated agricultural supplies

26. Family Organization Patriarchal families
Extended family networks through brothers, uncles, grandparents, and others.
The practice of ancestor worship was important to family authority among the affluent landowners.
Village authority was supreme over family rule among the ordinary farmers.

27. Religious Beliefs Buddhism
Buddhism originated in northern India during the 6th century.
Han Buddhism was popular during the Han Dynasty.
Emperor Tai Wu persecuted Buddhism.
Taoism/Daoism
Taoism was popular during the reign of the Han Dynasty.
Under the Qin Dynasty schools of Taoist philosophy began to emerge.
Confucianism
Confucianism was popular during both dynasties.