1. Qin and Han Dynasties

2. Qin Unify China Qin (chin) replaced the Zhou
Used Legalism to unify China:
Strong military defeated invaders
Seized land
Murdered Confucian scholars and burned books
Placed ppl loyal to the ruler in government
Violently put down resistance
Government had unlimited power

3. Government Sponsored Projects
Poor ppl suffered because they were forced to do grueling work:
Building highways
New irrigation ditches were built
Built the Great Wall of China
Closed gaps from existing walls and extended along the empire’s borders
Worked for no pay, killed if they refused, many dies anyway from starvation, crushing labor, or the harsh winters

4. Han Dynasty Overthrows the Qin
Ppl resented the high taxes, harsh labor quotas and severe punishment system of the Qin
After a civil war broke out in China, Han took over
Han lowered taxes and softened harsh punishments
Han dynasty lasted 400 years (202BC-200AD)

5. Highly Structured Government
Used a complex bureaucracy
Bureaucracy-a system of departments and agencies formed to carry out the work of government
Applicants for civil service jobs were tested on their knowledge of Confucianism
Civil service-govt. jobs within a bureaucracy
Confucian scholars advised the emperors court
In theory anyone could take the exam, in reality few peasants could afford to educate their sons so most govt. jobs were held by the wealthy

6. Tech. Commerce & Culture
Many inventions were made that influenced Chinese life:
Paper -> helped spread education
Collar harness for horse -> pull heavier loads
Perfected a 2 blade plow -> greater agricultural surplus
Silk was a valuable trade item, production was kept a secret making it harder to get silk and they could charge higher prices
Chinese becomes the common written language