Transcript AP World History POD #3 River Civilizations in Asia

AP World History
POD #3
River Civilizations in Asia
Han Dynasty
Class Discussion Questions
Bulliet et. al –
pp. 164-173
Origins of Imperial China
 “The early history of China was
characterized by the fragmentation that
geography dictated. The Shang (ca. 17501045 B.C.E.) and Zhou (ca. 1045-221
B.C.E) dynasties ruled over a compact zone
in northeastern China. The last few
centuries of nominal Zhou rule – the
Warring States Period – saw frequent
hostilities among a group of small states
with somewhat different languages and
cultures.” – Bulliet p. 164
Qin (221-206 B.C.E)
 Pronounced Chin
 Zheng came to the throne at age 13
and methodically conquered rivals
and created China’s first empire,
proclaiming himself Shi Huangdi (First
Emperor)
 Unified all northern and central China
 Adoption of severe Legalist methods
 Compulsory military and labor service
Shi Huangdi
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Upon taking the throne he claimed his dynasty would reign for
10,000 generations
Eliminated rivals for power especially the landowning
aristocracy
Abolished primogeniture, the right of the oldest son to inherit
property forcing all estates to be divided between several heirs
thus lessening their wealth, power and influence
Administrative structure was implemented with district officials
appointed and watched over by his agents
Standardized weights and measures, cart axle width, coins,
writing system, and an extensive road system
Crackdown on Confucian scholars with many books burned and
scholars beaten
Continued construction on the Great Wall as a protective
barrier from the northern nomads threatening the empire’s
borders
Xiongnu (SHE-OONG-noo)
 A united confederacy of the northern
nomadic groups referred to a
“barbarians” by the Qin
 Led by the dynamic Maodun
 Posed a significant military threat to
China for centuries through frequent
wars and high costs in lives lost and
resources expended
Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E  Established by Liu Bang (throne name
Gaozu) in 202 B.C.E. and would go on to
govern China for more than four centuries
 The Chinese today consider themselves to
be ethnically Han
 Courted popularity and consolidated rule by
denouncing the harshness of the Qin and
abandoning many of their strict laws
 They did keep many of the Legalist inspired
traditions of the Qin as a method to control
the outer provinces and diverse populations
Han Economics
 In an effort to repair the damage done to the treasury
as a result of the military campaigns to consolidate
power and influence in China the government had to
be frugal with their spending and policies
 Costs were kept down, Taxes were reduced,
Improvements in agriculture were sponsored and
Surpluses were stored for times of crisis
 Traditional land grants were restored and the eastern
lands were given to relatives and influential
supporters while the western lands were divided into
“commandaries” directly controlled by the strong
central government
Han Foreign Policy
 The Han troops were inferior,
especially when challenging the
Xiongnu and there was a lack of funds
for a large-scale build up
 Diplomacy became key and they
appeased the Xiongnu with annual
“gifts” of rice, silk and wine
Emperor Wu (141-87 B.C.E)
 Most of the information we have on this Han ruler are
interpreted to historian to be tainted as they come
from an individual with which he had a feud with
 Launched military campaigns into Fujian, Guangdong,
northern Vietnam, Manchuria and Korea
 Abandoned the policy of appeasement, built up an
infantry and cavalry and went on the offensive against
the Xiongnu
 The expansion of the Han empire under Wu
strengthened the foundations of the Silk Roads brining
great wealth in the future to China
Han Society
 Family unit and ties were strong, patriarchal and
required sons
 Each family member had a place and responsibility
based on gender, age, and relationship to other family
members
 Veneration of the ancestors
 Stressed loyalty, obedience to authority, respect for
elders and ancestors and concern for honor and
appropriate conduct
 Women’s status was dependent upon her “location”
within the various social institutions, although
arranged marriage was the norm
Han Innovation
 Astronomy – observation of the planets,
stars and other celestial objects resulted
from the belief in astrology
 Watermill – harnessed the power of running
water to turn a grindstone
 Horse Collar – did not constrict breathing
allowing horses to pull heavier loads
 Paper, horse breeding, crossbow trigger,
seismometer (record earthquakes)
 Transportation network of canals and roads
Chinese Religion
 Legalism – strict
adherence to the
letter of the law
rather than the spirit
of the law
 Daoism – Laozi, live
in harmony with
nature, Yin & Yang
 Confucianism –
Confucius, Analects,
Filial Piety, Five
Relationships
 Buddhism (Sidhartha
Guatama/Buddha,
Four Noble Truths,
Eightfold Path,
Nirvana
Decline of the Han
 Weak leadership in the imperial court
 Barbarian attacks, hungry peasant uprisings, poverty
and piracy
 Continuous military commitments along the frontier
borders placed a heavy burden on state finances
 Merchants and nobles regained control of huge tracts
of land – peasants began to look to these powerful
landholders for protection
 Military conscription failed resulting in the need to hire
foreign mercenaries (soldiers were loyal to the pay
not the state or emperor)
After the Han
 By 220 C.E. General Cao Cao formally
terminated the Han dynasty and the
empire broke into a political
fragmented region until the rise of
the Sui and Tang dynasties in the late
6th and early 7th centuries