1. The Political Development of Imperial China

2. The Government of Imperial China
Mandate of Heaven - Heaven supported the dynasty for as long as the emperor ruled well.
Bureaucracy – government officials that helped rule China. When it became corrupt the emperor seized control which led to rebellions and warlords.

3. China’s First Dynasty: Qin 221-206 B.C.E.
Imperial China - ruled by an emperor
Dynasties - ruling families
221 B.C.E. - first emperor, Qin Shi Huangdi, unites 7 kingdoms of China to become first emperor.

4. The Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty ruled during a golden age from 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.
Han dynasty uses civil service exams based on Confucianism.

5. The Han Lose the Mandate of Heaven.
360 years of chaos follows as China breaks up into smaller kingdoms and warlords fight for control.

6. The Sui dynasty reunites China.
Dynasty rules from 589 until 618.

7. The Tang Dynasty:
Tang mostly used educated aristocracy as scholar-officials to run government who passed civil service examinations based on the works of Confucius
Anyone could take the test but only the wealthy could afford tutors, books and time to study.

8. Collapse of the Tang
Peasant rebellions help lead to Tang collapse in 907
Chaos for 50 to 60 years

9. The Song Dynasty:
Song create meritocracy - rule by officials that earn their positions
Knowledge of Confucius would create officials that were kind, rational, moral and able to maintain order.
Song made it so people from lower classes could get education to pass exams.
Government jobs had privileges such as no taxes or military service.

10. Mongol Invasion
Song dynasty ends with invasion by the Mongols

11. Yuan Dynasty:
Temujin, Genghis Khan starts Mongol empire in 1206 and conquers Northern China
Kublai Khan, completes conquest of China, begins Yuan dynasty.

12. Mongol Empire

13. Government by Foreigners
Under Yuan, Mongols and foreigners, such as Marco Polo, controlled all the important government positions.
Abandonment of civil service exams. Chinese scholars became teachers, minor official, and clerks.

14. The Ming Dynasty: 1368-1644 Mistreatment of Chinese cause rebellion.
Ming re-establishes civil service examinations.

15. Advantages of Ming Civil Service System
well-organized government
emphasized moral behavior, justice, kindness, loyalty to emperor, proper conduct, loyalty to family
gave poor men an opportunity to be government official
ensured that government officials were trained and talented

16. Disadvantages of Ming Civil Service System
Exams did not test science, mathematics, and engineering
Confucian scholars had little respect for merchants, business, and trade
bureaucracy valued tradition more than progress