Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty, 221-206 B.C.E.
Established China’s first empire Shi Huangdi (221-206 B.C.E) Legalist rule
Bureaucratic administration Centralized control Military expansion – focus on military
power Book burnings targeted
Confucianists Buried protestors alive!
Built large section of the Great Wall
The Qin Dynasty
Competing Ideologies of Empire
Struggle between Legalism and Confucianism Qin rejected Confucian respect for
the past and for living a moral example
Ordered Confucian texts burned Qin favored Legalism with its strict
laws and enforcement
Execution of Confucian Scholars
A history of China, written centuries after the Qin, depict the reported book burnings and burying of Confucian scholars
The Qin Dynasty
Administrative Power Autocracy – a government with unlimited
power Established a centralized bureaucracy of
trained officials – chose officials based on merit and talent Government jobs were no longer passed down to
sons –reduced the power of the nobles Anyone who can afford it may own land
Empire divided into 36 provinces each controlled by appointed officials
The Qin DynastyMilitary Power and Mass Mobilization
Qin defeated regional states by 221 B.C.E. Armed forces essential to Qin success
Defeated Koreans and nomadic tribes Mass mobilization of men for public works
including Great Wall of China 700,000 workers used to create capital city Qin Shi Huangdi tomb included 7,000 life-
size figures of soldiers
The Qin DynastyEconomic Power
Standard round coin with hole in center – banliang
Standardization of weights, measures, etc. Public works intended to improve economy
Canal and river transport systems Road network for trade and communication Irrigation in Sichuan for grain production Acquisition of areas rich in iron ore and two
ironworking facilities
The Qin DynastyThe Fall of the Qin Dynasty
Dynasty collapsed with death of Qin Shi Huangdi in 210 B.C.E.
Oppression brought backlash – revolts of people eager to escape the burdens of Qin labor and military service
Succession fight within Qin – several assassinations
Rebellions in regional capitals - first rebellion led by peasant farmer Chen Sheng (Dazexiang Uprising)
Had lost the Mandate of Heaven
Han Dynasty Overview 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.
“People of the Han” original Chinese Expanded China’s borders and developed a
system of government that lasted for centuries Paper invented [105 B.C.E.]
Silk Road trade develops; improves life for many Confucianism became foundation of society Buddhism introduced into China
Liu Bang - Founder First emperor of the Han Dynasty (202 – 195
BCE) Emerged as victor from the post-Qin power
struggles – mighty will + sheer luck Modest background, low-level official Established capital at Chang’an
Main challenge: form a government that could secure order and dynastic stability without reminding the people of the Qin’s harsh rule
Liu Bang - Administration
Centralized government—Central authority controls the running of the state (Qin system maintained of direct administration of localities by court appointed officials)
Meritocracy – officials appointed by the court based on their talent and abilities, not birth
Officials took care of many responsibilities including public works, military, taxes, ceremonies, judging lawsuits
Departed from Legalism Lowered taxes and softened punishments Set a model for succeeding emperors
Han SynthesisThe Han Synthesis- term refers to continued
reliance on Legalism (military, legal system), but combined with Confucian education and ethical system
Moral basis of superior-subordinate relationships – subjects owed loyalty & responsibility
Han dynasty recorded Confucius’s teachings and put a big emphasis on family.
Tried to replace Confucian books lost during the Qin Dynasty
Emperor Wudi – Martial Emperor
Ruled 141 – 87 BCE – longer than any other Han ruler
Main Challenge: Foreign policy and expansion – How will he expand China’s borders and secure its trade routes from the western and northern nomadic warrior tribes?
Emperor Wudi, 141-87 BCEStrengthening the Power of
Government Emperor Wudi established a complex
bureaucracy
New system ignored the nobles—relied instead on trained scholars (mostly sons of merchants or landowners)
Taxes paid for the large government and military
Chinese peasants owed part of their crops to the government – also a month’s worth of labor each year and two years service in the military
Emperor Wudi, 141-87 B.C.E.Strengthened Power of Government
Wudi actively sought to decrease the power & wealth of the feudal lords Seized land, required they give expensive gifts Required that lands be divided between all
heirs – to reduce the land size controlled by a single family
Wudi actively sought to decrease the
power of merchants Government took over profitable industries
(iron, salt, grain, liquor) and taxed the products heavily to build up royal treasury
Taxes on these industries – pay for military
Wudi – “Martial Emperor” Aggressive foreign policy – expanded borders
“Martial Emperor” expanded China’s empire through war Colonized Manchuria, Korea & Vietnam
Chinese culture strongly impacted these regions
Needed a strong military to open up the trade routes to the West Han as militaristic as Qin had been Army of 300,000 to a million Campaigns to the west for access to Central Asian trade
for horses, cattle, and furs
Expansion – 2 ways – Conquest & Migration Military conquest brought new land and new
peoples living under Chinese rule Created military-agricultural colonies on borders
North faced flooding and war casualties – causing migrations to the south
South -- better rice growing – shifting population over centuries from north to south
Southern residents faced fewer threats to life
Emperor Wudi, 141-87 BCEForeign Policy / Expansion
Foreign policy - tribute systemWay to manage relations with nomadic tribes
to the west and north without going to warGoal – maintain peace and trade Tribes had to recognize Chinese superiority Tribal leaders presented gifts and hostages to
the Han emperor in return for valuable gifts from emperor such as silk and gold
Tribes also got the right to trade at frontier markets
In reality – China had little power over these societies
Emperor Wudi, 141-87 BCEForeign Policy / Expansion
Xiongnu Challenge Foreign policy challenge—the Xiongnu confederacy of
tribes raiding northern frontiers Nomadic pastoralists –sheep, cattle, horses
Moved about in search of water and pastures Did not farm, no writing – oral culture Expert horsemen & archers – trained from boyhood
By 209 BCE – the Xiongnu tribes had established a growing empire in Mongolia
Frequent border raids into China -- constant struggles between China and the northern tribes will last for 1,500 years
Xiongnu Challenge – Passive Foreign Policy
Refused to become a tributary state of China –to be subservient to the emperor Traditional tribute system failed
200 BCE – Xiongnu attacked and surrounded the first Han emperor and his army
China had to make annual gifts of expensive goods, food, royal women to the tribal chieftains to maintain peace
Xiongnu ranked as a co-equal state
Wudi (Emperor Wu) & the Xiongnu
Wudi took a different course of action Wudi aggressively sought allies among the
nomadic tribes to fight the Xiongnu Part of Central Asia came under the tribute system –
Wudi gained horses to increase cavalry
133 BCE – Wudi went on the offensive and attacked the Xiongnu with over 100,000 men
Despite initial success – Wudi’s army could never completely defeat them
Border war – costing government a fortune, hard on soldiers – losing morale, people living near borders faced constant warfare
Xiongnu Foreign Policy Effective strategy of
extortion in dealing with the Han
Military strategy – lightning strike deep into China and then retreat
Policy – alternating military strikes with diplomatic negotiations to gain more goods from the Han
Demanded to be treated as a co-equal state
Han – Expansion of Great Wall
The Great Wall with Towers
Xiongnu – Peace Treaty Civil war and political problems weakened
the Xiongnu after Wudi’s death – finally brought under the tribute system in 51 BCE when a peace treaty was negotiated
Xiongnu continued to have the upper hand in diplomacy with the Han – demanded ever increasing amounts of silk and other gifts
Peace on the frontiers -- important for the growth and protection of Silk Road trade routes
Han Social Hierarchy
Other Classes• Third class composed of artisans, made useful items, luxury goods
• Merchants occupied fourth class, trade not valued by Confucianism
• Slaves at bottom of society
• Military not an official class, but part of government and offered way to rise in status - required two years of service – infantry made up largest part of the military, cavalry increased under Han – use of the crossbow
Social StructureSocial Structure• Han society highly structured, clearly defined social classes
• Emperor at top, ruled with mandate from heaven
• Upper class of palace court, nobles, government officials, scholars
• Second, largest class consisted of peasants, who grew empire’s food—agriculture highly valued by Confucianism—big population—food supply huge concern
Han Social Structure
• Confucianism shaped Chinese society
• Confucius taught that family was central to well-being of the state
• Officials promoted strong family ties
– Fathers head of family– Filial piety stressed– Obedience, devotion to
parents, grandparents
Family LifeFamily Life• Children served parents
as they aged, honored dead at household shrines
• Han officials believed dutiful children made respectful subjects
• Some men even received government jobs because of respect shown parents
Dutiful ChildrenDutiful Children
Han SocietyHan Society
Women in Han Society Most women’s lives were centered on the home—
maintaining the household, raising and educating children, managing household finances
Rural women worked in the fields, city women ran shops, practiced herbal medicine—important contributions to the family’s economic well-being
Wealthy women pursued education and culture Ban Zhao – female historian and Confucianist
Husband was a court official and also a writer She wrote a guidebook for women called Lessons for Women—
women should be humble and obedient – but argued for the education of girls - based on Confucianism
A Confucian Bureaucracy – 130,000 officials Wudi chose educated men with Confucian
principles Established elite academy to teach Confucianism – knowledge of Confucian thought became requirement for promotion
Civil service exam system – complexExam covered law, history, literature, and Confucianism
Emperor Wudi, 141-87 BCEPolitics Influences Society
History – Unites Society
**Han writers produced important works of history to express a shared Chinese experience
Sima Qian (known as the Grand Historian, 145-85 B.C.)
Wrote Records of the Grand Historian Believed in visiting historical sites, talking
to eyewitnesses, not glorifying the past This early history became model for
Chinese historical writing
Unification of Chinese Culture:
Non-Han Peoples Han emperors expanded the empire—brought
foreigners living under Chinese rule
Farmers encouraged to move south to new lands and marry locals
Assimilation program—process of making conquered peoples part of the Chinese culture
Intermarrying, schools set up to teach Confucianism, local scholars were appointed to government, Chinese written language spread
Trade Routes of the Ancient WorldChina’s Han period was a time of great prosperity, growth and
achievement, defining imperial Chinese civilization for years. .
Foreign Policy & Origins Foreign Policy & Origins of the Silk Roadsof the Silk Roads
As they conquered areas of Central Asia, the Han learned people farther west wanted Chinese goods
Zhang Qian was sent by Wu to secure alliances in Central Asia against the Xiongnu - returned from failed diplomatic mission, 126 BC
Told of region’s riches, demand for Chinese goods
Events led to increased trade with west
Zhang Qian—Silk Zhang Qian—Silk Road pioneerRoad pioneer
Merchants traveling between China, Central Asia , and the West used overland routes. The most famous were called the Silk Roads. This network of routes eventually stretched from China over 4,000 miles to Mediterranean Sea, and linked China to India, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire..
• Travelers on Silk Roads crossed rugged, barren terrain
• Faced attacks by bandits
• For protection, traveled in huge camel caravans
• Bactrian camels – crucial to success of the routes
• Stopped at stations along way – oasis stops – grew into market towns
TravelTravel
• Most merchants traveled only part of way
• Traded goods with merchants from distant lands
• Most goods traded were luxury items
• Small, valuable, highly profitable
TradeTrade
The Silk Roads -OverviewThe Silk Roads -Overview
Silk RoadsSilk Roads
Bactrian camel – essential to the successful workings of the Silk Roads
Silk Roads – 50 BCE – 250 CE
Silk Roads allowed for large-scale economic exchange over a vast area stretching from China to the Mediterranean It isn’t a road – several interconnecting routes
50 BCE – 250 CE marks the first era of the Silk Roads – coincides with the rise of stable, powerful empires (Augustus in Rome, Han China, Parthian in Persia, Kushan in Central Asia)
Empires provided security, improved road systems, coinage, transport technology
Silk Roads – 50 BCE – 250 CE
Role of the pastoral nomads in Central Asia – important role in exchange network
Their domesticated horses and camels – sought after by the Chinese
Nomads were acclimated to the harsh environment of the steppes – relied on for assistance by travelers
Acted as middle men moving goods through the region
Han China – wanted horses, jade, farming products (grapes, wine, fruits), Roman glassware
Rome – wanted silk, paper, Han iron, exotic spices from China & India, incense and oils from Arabia – spent fortunes on these items
Silk Roads & Cultural Silk Roads & Cultural ExchangeExchangeTraders carried ideas as well as goods over the Silk Roads
The stirrup, invented in Central Asia, changed warfare – mounted warriors could stand & charge enemy with a lance
Buddhism spread to China from India Reached China in first century CE Seen as a foreign religion by government and ignored Han government became less stable, violence increased Buddhism’s message of rebirth offered hope
Buddhism gained popularity by 200 CE among merchants, lower classes
Mahayana Buddhism developed (less strict form, focus on salvation, doesn’t reject material world)
Han Economy
Economic Power Developed ironworking techniques Spread trade routes to the west Raised land revenues and
nationalized private enterprise (creating government monopolies) Confucianists opposed these policies but also
opposed commercial activity in general
Trade grew in Han period• Agriculture basis of economy• Growth of trade increased
prosperity• Led to contact between
China, other civilizations
Production of silk• Most prized Chinese product • Secret method for making silk• Revealing secret punishable
by death
Han products• Ironworkers made iron armor,
swords• Artisans made pottery, jade
and bronze objects, lacquer ware
Major industry• Raised silkworms, unwound
threads of cocoons • Dyed threads, wove into fabric• Fabric beautiful, soft, strong• Clothing costly, in high
demand
Han Economy & Industry
Economy: Silk Production
By 2400 B.C. the Chinese has domesticated the silkworm and its main food source, the mulberry tree (fully domesticated insect)
Sericulture (science of silk production)—heavily guarded secret—punishable by death if revealed to foreigners due to its economic importance
Production involved killing the worm and unwinding its cocoon in a continuous thread of more than 2,000 feet long
Silk Production
**Women played the predominant role in silk production
Han Commerce & Industry
• Emperor Wudi viewed the growth in Chinese industry as a means for the government to make money to pay for the military
•119 BCE government monopolies were established on the production of iron, salt, liquor –private businessmen now lost a big source of profit
•Government also stored grain and waited until prices went up to sell it…goal was to provide more constant prices and more profit
Papermaking• One of most important Han inventions - paper • Made by grinding plant fibers into paste, paste dried in sheets• Created “books” by connecting several sheets of paper into long scroll
Farming• Inventions included iron plow, wheelbarrow, collar harness allowed
oxen to pull heavier loads • With a two-bladed iron plow, farmer could till more land• Water mill—used to grind grain
Han AchievementsHan Achievements
Science & Tech Science & Tech • Created seismograph to measure earthquake tremors; approximated pi• Mining advances, use of natural gas as furnace fuel • Made advances in acupuncture• Invented an early magnetic compass, ship’s rudder, calendar based on
movements of both sun and moon , water clock, stronger iron
Classical AgeClassical Age• During Han period, arts flourished, sciences
and technology improved life• Han China boasted magnificent palaces,
multistoried towers (none survived)
Artisans and ArtistsArtisans and Artists• Calligraphy – important art form after the
invention of paper • Artisans produced glazed ceramic, bronze
figurines, jade carvings, silk cloth• Artists painted portraits and nature scenes
on walls, scrolls, room screens• During Later Han, Buddhist art flourished,
including temple wall paintings
Han AchievementsHan Achievements
Han Achievements
***Replica of Han *Replica of Han seismometer c. 132 seismometer c. 132 CE CE Hydraulic chain pumpsHydraulic chain pumps
Replica – grain Replica – grain storage towerstorage tower
Gilded oil lampGilded oil lamp
Han Decline - Wang Mang
Usurping of Han power
Xin dynasty [9-23 CE] Death of a child emperor led to attempt
of by military official Wang Mang to create new dynasty – Confucian reformer
Flooding and course changes of the Yellow River disrupted daily and economic life
Invasions of Xiongnu and rebellion in 23 CE opened door for return of Han
Later or Eastern Han
Return of the Han– Later Han Dynasty A Weakened Han Dynasty [23-220 CE]
Han weakness enabled barbarians to live inside the Great Wall, serve in army, and intermarry with Chinese
Led to sinicization (adoption of Chinese culture) of barbarians
Han failed to force local government officials to send tax revenues to central government
Decline of the Eastern or Later Han Dynasty
Wide gap between the rich and poor Small farmers were in debt Rich landholders were not required to pay
taxes Economic problems then led to political
instability 184 – 205 CE – The Yellow Turban Rebellion
Peasant revolt against the government united by teachings of Daoism
Agrarian crisis – famine in north sent farmers into the south looking for work – labor surplus exploited by wealthy landowners
Later Han Dynasty ruled until 220 CE – emigration of nomadic peoples into the north kept the nation divided
Decline of Han Dynasty
Infighting among ruling elitesUnequal distribution of land Tax burden fell on peasants rather
than on large landownersSeries of peasant rebellionsPolitical corruption Generals usurp political power -
became warlords
China – Reunification**Why was China able to reunite in 6th
C. CE?
Homogeneity of cultureStrong tradition of centralized
government, Unifying values of ConfucianismSpread of language and writing
system throughout East Asia Advanced farming and technologyAbsorption of nomadic tribes who
came into the empire