Transcript Rise & fall of the Qin Dynasty

Take out your homework… Your Zhou
Dynasty poetry MASTERPIECE!!! Also,
take out the paper with the activity
instructions & “Cypress Boat” poem.
(There are extras in the “Absent” folder if
needed.)
 Be ready to start when the bell rings `

Trade poems with a classmate. The person
you trade with MAY NOT BE IN THE SAME
ROW as you OR THE ROW BEHIND/IN FRONT
of you. They must sit far away from you…
 Read their poem and complete the
following analysis:

› Does it reflect Zhou-era China based on the
background you have studied? Does it reflect a
world view based on the Zhou-era philosophies
you have studied?
› What revisions would you make to the poem to
make it more representative of the work found in
the Shi-Jing?
First unified Chinese
empire 
 Short lived: lasted from
221 to 206 BCE 
 During Era of Warring
States, Qin defeated
opponents
 Qin leader, Shi Huangdi,
appointed himself
emperor

 Qin
imposed Legalist form of gov’t on
all of China
› Absolute rule!
› Former nobles lose all power
› Divided empire into 36 districts governed
by gov’t officials; each reported to the
emperor
› Administered punishments and rewards
to its subject states

Standardized Chinese
language, writing system,
currency, measurements, etc.
› Significance?
Built the Great Wall of China
in the northern part of the
country to block invaders
 Dug many irrigation canals
and built many roads


Significance?

Shi Huangdi was not popular with his
people
› Expensive public works projects = huge taxes
› Nobility resentful of lowing power
› Books were banned that discussed other
forms of gov’t
› Opponents executed
› After Shi Huangdi died in 210 BCE, his son
took the throne; deposed in 206BCE and
replaced by the Han Dynasty