Classical

ChinaQin and Han Dynasties

I. Warring States Period (ca. 481 – 221 BCE)

A. Collapse of Zhou Dynasty

B. Several independent, regional states fought for dominance in East central China

C. 221 BCE – Forces of Qin Shi Huangdi win formation of the Qin Dynasty

II. Qin Dynasty (221 – 207 BCE)A. Emperor – Qin Shi Huangdi*. 2 Most famous structures built under his command

1. Imperial Tomb with 7000 clay warriors2. Great Wall of China – linked the already existing walls on the frontier to keep “barbarians” out

B. Military Conquest and Control – Qin’s armies take over what is now Northern China, Northern Korea, and neighboring non-Chinese tribes

C. Government Bureaucracy Formed

1. Zhou feudal system ended

2. Government officials selected on ability and merit

3. Standardization of the Chinese legal code

4. Chinese-controlled lands divided into 40 provinces called “Commandaries” – each ruled by

a. a royal governorb. a military governor

c. a censor (who made sure everything was up to the Emperor’s orders)

D. Economics

1. Public works projects to aid in production and trade – roads, canals, irrigation, iron working facilities

2. Standardization of weights, measures, and money systems

E. Culture

1. System of Writing Made Uniform

2. Philosophies

a. Legalism

1. Main Philosopher –Han Feizi

2. Main Idea – Strict laws that are enforced will insure a good and stable government and society

3. was the officially accepted philosophy and basis of Qin government system

a. Daoism

1. Main Philosopher –

Lao Tzu (wrote Tao Te

Ching)

2. Main Ideas – live

simply and in harmony

with nature

3. Related Idea – balance of

yin and yang

b. Confucianism1. Main Philosopher – Kongfuzia.k.a. “Confucius” (who lived during the Zhou Dynasty from 551 – 479 BCE)2. Main Ideas

a. governments work best when run by people who were decent, kind, virtuous, compassionate and cultured/educatedb. the universe had a set moral order that could be understood

*. daily activities should be ritualized (order of the day)

c. all people could be and had the right to be educated and culturedd. hierarchy of social relationships based on loyalty (superior person is listed first)

F. End of the Qin Dynasty

1. Qin Shi Huangdi died in 210 BCE

2. Infighting between rivals for control (civil war) until 202 BCE

*. Liu Bang’s forces victorious Han Dynasty established

III. Han Dynasty (202 BCE – 220 CE)

A. Famous Emperors

1. Liu Bang – First Han Emperor

2. Han Wudi – Emperor during the “peak” of Han Dynasty (141 – 87 BCE)

B. Military Conquests, Control and Conflict

1. Expansion of Chinese Territory – new lands in the north and south of China and what is now northern Vietnam

2. Dealings with the Xiongnu (“Barbarians”)

a. on-and-off battling with non-Chinese nomadic groups to the north and the south

b. Some “barbarian” groups eventually allowed to live within the borders of Han China or were pacified with gifts (usually of silk)

C. Government Bureaucracy Continues (but now based on ideas of Confucianism, not Legalism)

1.Capital – Changan

2. Bureaucrats

a. Selection based on merit

1. honest and good people recommended for the job

2. candidates had to take written examination to qualify

b. Training and Promotion based on Confucianism

1. special schools set-up to train civil servants2. promotion based on performance and knowledge of Confucianism

3. Provinces/Commandaries continue in the same way as during the Qin Dynasty

a. censuses taken

b. taxes collected

4. Laws made less harsh

D. Economics1. Trade

a. Silk Road (overland trade with Middle East and Rome)

1. From China – Silk2. To China – gold, glass, wool, linen

b. Sea Trade – with India2. Increases in production – mining, weapon/tool production, shipbuilding, farming/granaries3. Big Agricultural Problem Developing - Free Peasants were increasingly able to own less and less land – why?

a. rapidly growing populationb. land sold to rich aristocratsc. lack of wealthd. rent cheaper than taxese. avoid military or labor service

E. Han Dynasty Culture1. Value of History – Official Court Historians (e.g. Sima Qian)

2. Expedition

a. A Diplomat named Zhang Qian was sent to find allies against the barbarians

b. He returned after about 10 years with a wealth of information about many other places (including Rome!)

3. Role of Women – Stress on duty to family, subservience to male authority, humility, and hard work4. Service to the State –military, taxes, labor5. Technological Advances – textiles, mills, iron casting, paper6. Religion and Philosophies

a. Confucianism and Daoist philosophies continue to be practicedb. Buddhism enters China

1. initially rejected by Confucians and Daoists2. eventually becomes incorporated in the belief systems of these philosophies

F. Factors Leading to the End of the Han Dynasty

1.Widening gap between rich and poor

2. Barbarian invasions – esp. Huns

3. Civil War - Infighting for control over the throne

IV. “Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties Period” (220 – 589 CE)

A. Wei Kingdom – in the north

1. Assimilation of Barbarians and northern Chinese peoples

2. Ruled by “Barbarian” dynasties

B. Wu Kingdom – in the south

1. Continuation of Chinese cultural practices

2. Ruled by a succession of six, short-lived dynasties

C Shu Kingdom – in the west