Transcript 9/22/2015 Qin Dynasty

SSWH2 The student will identify the major
achievements of Chinese and Indian societies
from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.
c. Describe the development of Chinese civilization
under the Zhou and Qin.
The Chou Dynasty
(c. 1100-221 B.C.)
 Chou originated west of the
Hwang Hu’s great river
bend.
 Ruled as coordinators of
regional (feudal) kingdoms
rather than as a central
govt.
 military force determined
strength of rulers
 Conflict led to decline into
the "Period of the Warring
States" (403-221 B.C.).
 Vast majority of peasants
lived on farms in family
compounds
 Silk was their most
important product
 Confucianism, Taoism,
Legalism begin
(review)
Classical Imperial China
Qin Dynasty – China
united by war and
controlled by legalist
ruler for 20 years
Han Dynasty –
Empire China ruled
by Confuscian govt
that brought
freedom, prosperity,
invention and trade
to China
Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty
221-206 B.C.E.
China is named after
this dynasty (Ch’in =
Qin = China)
China was conquered
and united by Shi
Huangdi (221-206
B.C.E)
China’s first emperor
Emperor Qin?
 The origin of names is often
impossible to track down
precisely
 The name was in use long
before the First Qin Emperor.
 The Chinese have never used
'China' as the name for their
own country.
 There names used include
'Zhongguo' (literally central
kingdom) used even before the
Qin dynasty; 'Zhonghua'
(literally central prosperity)
and 'Han' (after the Han
dynasty).
The First Emperor was the
First Chinese Emperor
 claimed to be the First Qin
Emperor - the first of a
new dynasty.
 He controlled the Empire
of the state of Qin not a
new nation.
 Some look back into the
preceding Xia, Shang and
Zhou dynasties for a
preceding 'Chinese'
Emperor
 Some choose the mythical
Yellow Emperor.
Politics
 The Qin dynasty adopted
Legalism.
 Effective but cruel laws
 Political opponents were
imprisoned or executed.
 Increased the size and power of
the govt bureaucracy
 censorate acted as spies on the
govt officials
 Large and powerful military
 He extended the empire w/
ruthless military
Economy
 Abolished feudal estates
• Empire owns land and all
people
 standardized monetary system
 Improved and standardized
road system.
 weights and measures were
standardized
 Massive public building projects
• Great Wall of China
• Emperor’s tomb (terra cotta
army)
Religion/Philosophy
Legalism
Emperor treated
like a divine being
Confucians and
Taoists persecuted
Ancestor worship
common
Social Life
 Commoners made up over
90% of the population
• rarely left their village
 fathers' employment
passed to eldest son
 Strict laws kept good order
 Military leaders were most
important social class
 Often peasants treated like
slaves for large building
projects
 Women were treated as
property
Intellectual Developments
Books that opposed
the official views
were burned.
Excellent bronze
weapons
Terra cotta army
Great Wall
Standardized the
writing system in
size and shape.
The First Emperor killed all
the scholars?
 It is not clear how
many scholars were
killed.
 Most likely Han
Dynasty made it up to
quash Qin loyalty
 Most likely: a group of
scholars angry by new
reforms plotted a
revolution and they
were put to death for
treason
Art
Bronze
work
continued
Clay for art
and
pottery