Section 1Empires of China and India

Section 1Empires of China and India

Preview

• Starting Points Map: China and India

• Main Idea / Reading Focus

• The Qin Dynasty

• The Han Dynasty

• Map: Qin and Han Dynasties

• Faces of History: Shi Huangdi

The Growth of China

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Section 1Empires of China and India

Reading Focus • How did the Qin dynasty unify and expand China?

• How did the Han dynasty restore unity and strengthen China’s government?

Main IdeaThe Qin and Han dynasties created strong centralized governments that unified China and shaped Chinese civilization for thousands of years to follow.

The Growth of China

Section 1Empires of China and India

The Qin Dynasty

Zhou dynasty began to decline around 400 BC, power shifted to local nobles

• Several small states battled for land, power by 300s

• State of Qin rose to power

– Located on China’s western frontier

– Conquered other states in military campaigns

– Last rival state fell, 221 BC

• Qin unified Chinese empire

Section 1Empires of China and India

Rejection of Confucianism• Legalists rejected philosophy developed during Zhou dynasty

• Confucianists thought rulers should be virtuous, lead by example

• Legalists said rulers should be strong, govern through force

• Supported strict laws, stressed harsh punishment for even minor crimes

Harsh Qin Rule• First ruler of new empire took title Shi Huangdi, “first emperor”

• Unified China with help of two advisors, Hanfeizi and Li Si

• Founded school of Legalism

• Taught that powerful, efficient government key to maintaining order

Section 1Empires of China and India

Maintaining Order• Shi Huangdi ruthlessly suppressed all criticism of his rule

• Ordered burning of books which conflicted with Legalist thinking

• Only books on practical subjects like agriculture, medicine spared

• Confucian scholars who discussed banned books, criticized Qin government tortured, killed

Strong, Centralized Government• Shi Huangdi weakened rival nobles by taking land

• Forced nobles to move to capital so he could watch them

• Seized all private arms to prevent rebellions

• Divided China into 36 districts, appointed loyalists to govern them

Section 1Empires of China and India

Qin Reforms• Harsh Qin rule unified, strengthened China• Standardized laws, writings, monetary systems, weights and measures• Also standardized width of cart axles, so all carts could travel China’s roads

Qin Growth and Defense• Worked to protect empire from outside threats• Qin army pushed nomadic warriors farther north, subdued areas to south• Joined separate defensive walls, came to be known as Great Wall of China

Massive Building Projects• Improved irrigation system and increased farm production• Expanded network of roads and canals to link capital to other parts of empire• Improved transportation, increased trade, levied heavy taxes

The Qin Dynasty

Section 1Empires of China and India

Fall of the Qin

• Dynasty’s policies fueled anger, resentment

• Qin dynasty crumbled after Shi Huangdi died, 210 BC

– Peasants fed up with forced labor, high taxes, rebelled

– Nobles eager to regain land, power, raised armies against new emperor

– Peasant rebel leader Liu Bang defeated Qin forces, founded Han dynasty

Section 1Empires of China and India

Summarize

How did Shi Huangdi unify China and build a strong empire?

Answer(s): conquered other states; centralized government; suppressed all criticism; subdued raiders to the north, constructed Great Wall

Section 1Empires of China and India

The Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220—more than 400 years. It would be the model for all later Chinese dynasties.

• Liu Bang ruled with “mandate of heaven”

• Ancient Chinese beliefs:– Gods supported virtuous

rulers– Opposed corrupt ones– Defeated ruler had lost

support of the gods– Qin ruler defeated by Liu

Bang

Restoring Control• Liu Bang softened harsh

Legalist policies

• Lowered taxes, earned loyalty of peasants

• Gave large blocks of land to relatives, military supporters

• Distribution of land earned military’s loyalty

Gaining Loyalty

The Han Dynasty

Section 1Empires of China and India

• Liu Bang not well educated, peasant origins

• Appointed Confucian scholars to advise, serve in government

• Confucianism regained popularity, shaped Han government

• Some Legalist policies remained, maintained firm control over empire

Confucianism• Liu Bang continued Qin’s

strong, centralized government to weaken rivals

• Expanded bureaucracy

• Numerous officials appointed to oversee administration of Han government

• Helped restore stability to Chinese empire

StabilityThe Han Dynasty

Section 1Empires of China and India

Liu Bang died 195 BC• Young son took throne, but too young to rule• His mother, Empress Lü, ruled in his place• Only one of Liu Bang’s many wives, Lü plotted for son to be emperor

Power play• Empress Lü died, 180 BC; officials had entire Lü family killed• Power plays and court intrigues common during Han, later dynasties• Court plots were distracting, made effective rule difficult

Family interests• After son gained throne, Empress Lü promoted family’s interests• Had series of infants named emperor after son died young• Maintained power for 15 years

A Powerful Empress

Section 1Empires of China and India

Height of Han Dynasty• Emperor Wudi ruled from 141 to 187 BC• Energetic, aggressive, considered greatest of all Han rulers• Promoted economic growth• New roads, canals made it easier to get products to market• Monopolies on some products; limits on merchants to limit power, wealth

• Wudi wanted officials to hold Confucian values

• Developed civil service system• Candidates had to pass exam in

Confucian classics• Wealthy, influential families

continued to control government

Government Philosophy• Biggest threat to Wudi’s security

from nomads in steppes north of China, Xiongnu

• Excellent horse skills, fierce warriors

• Swept in from steppes, raided settlements along China’s frontier

Xiongnu

The Greatest Han Emperor

Section 1Empires of China and India

Expansion under Wudi• Wudi expanded empire through warfare• Began to use force against southern Xiongnu tribes, 133 BC• Formed alliances with Xiongnu enemies, began to weaken Xiongnu tribes• Colonized parts of Korea, Manchuria to northeast, Vietnam to south;

extended control into Central Asia to west, opened trade routes

• Brief crisis AD 9 when rebel Wang Mang seized throne

• Han regained control, AD 25, start of Later Han dynasty

• Later Han weakened by court intrigues, gap between rich and poor, high taxes crushing poor

Han Decline• Yellow Turbans revolted AD 184• Threw empire into chaos• Power shifted to local warlords• Warfare tore region apart• China began turbulent era, Period

of Division, which would last 350 years

Revolt

The Greatest Han Emperor

Section 1Empires of China and India

Section 1Empires of China and India

Identify Supporting Details

Why is Wudi considered to be the greatest Han emperor?

Answer(s): promoted economic growth, Confucianism, civil service system, expanded empire through warfare