1. Strong Rulers Unite China

2. Shi Huangdi Unifies China
Shi Huangdi: powerful ruler in Western China that overthrew feudal lords around him until he had enough land and power to declare himself emperor
Called himself “First Emperor” in 221 BC
Began China’s classical age (a time in a civilization that sets patterns in government, philosophy, religion, science, and the arts that serves as a pattern/framework for later cultures)

4. Legalism Shi Huangdi was a harsh ruler with centralized power
He had Legalist advisors: based on the idea that “the nature of man is evil. His goodness is acquired”…and therefore the only way to have an ordered society was to have strict laws and harsh punishments
Tortured, killed, or enslaved opposition
Approved book burnings on all writings other than instructive medicine/farming manuals
Ideas lasted for a long time in China: people could be forced to work on government projects if they didn’t follow through on their duties or broke a law

7. Shi Huangdi’s Other Legacies
Standardized weights and measures and other things, like wheels for carts
Abolished feudalism because that required allegiance to a local lord rather than to him (the central government)
Ordered local defensive walls to be joined and improved, which led to the first stages of the Great Wall of China
Built a massive tomb that he filled with 6,000 life-sized and individually-carved clay soldiers and horses
wasn’t found until the 1970s because it was hidden underground in a burial mound !!
After Shi Huangdi died, there were revolts throughout the country and (4 years later) an illiterate peasant leader, Gao Zu, defeated the other armies that were fighting for power and founded the Han Empire

9. The Han Dynasty Strengthens China
New emperor Gao Zu lowered taxes, appointed Confucian advisors, and made laws less strict
Most famous Han Emperor: Wudi
Strengthened government and economy
Expanded China’s territory
Established the Silk Road (network of trade routes with the Fertile Crecent)
Gave people positions in the government (civil service) based on ability accomplishments rather than through family ties
made government stronger and made social mobility a bigger possibility
stayed in place until 1912
Dynastic Cycle: empire decayed; weaker leaders came to power; peasants revolted; invaders came in; China broke into many smaller kingdoms

10. Appoints loyal officials Builds canals and roads
Restores Peace
Appoints loyal officials
Builds canals and roads
Repairs defensive walls
Neglects government duties
Corrupt officials
Heavy taxes to pay for fun
Allows walls to decay
Loses control
Floods, famines, earthquakes
Invasions
Peasant revolts

11. Gao Zu

12. Wudi

14. Achievements of the Han Golden Age
Han period was a Golden Age in Chinese History
Science and Medicine:
Astronomers made advancements in mapping stars, planets, and eclipses
Invented acupuncture
Invented the seismograph to detect earthquakes
Technology and Engineering:
Method for making paper out of wood pulp still used today
Advanced methods of shipbuilding and using the rudder to steer
Invented wheelbarrows
Invented suspension bridges
Religion and the Arts:
Great architecture: palaces and parks
Jade and ivory carvings; ceramic figures
Bronze and silk-making techniques improved
By 100 AD, Buddhism had spread to China; it caught on quickly and became very popular (by 400 AD) because it presented a hope of escaping suffering (eventually)