Download Chapter 7: Early China Section 3: The Qin and Han Dynasties

Chapter 7: Early China
Section 3: The Qin and Han Dynasties
I. Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
A Powerful Ruler-BASED ON LEGALISM
Had everyone who opposed him punished or killed
Burned books opposing him
Strong central government
Appointed censors
Provinces and counties could only be ruled by those appointed by Qin
Unified China: currency, roads, and canal
The Great Wall
Xiongnu (nomads in Gobi) often attacked farms and villages so farmers built walls in the
north
Qin Shihuangdi forced farmers to leave their fields to connect and strengthen the walls
Qin did not build the Great Wall of China that we know today; it was built 1500 years
later
C. Why Did People Rebel?
Reduced Aristocrats power
Burned books/writings
Forced farmers to build roads and walls
Four years after Qin died, people overthrew his dynasty
II. The Han Dynasty
Liu Bang, once a peasant, began the Han Dynasty
Threw out harsh policies but continued to use censors and divided empire into provinces and
counties
Han Dynasty reached its peak under Han Wudi
What Was the Civil Service?
Han Wudi wanted talented people to fill government posts so job seekers had to take long,
difficult tests to qualify
System actually favored the rich
Students were not allowed to do physical labor or to play sports-could fish
B. The Chinese Empire Grows
Large bureaucracy needed to rule…60 million
Average farmer owned about 1 acre and average families could not raise enough to
live…sold land and became tenant farmers
Han armies added land to the south and pushed borders westward; also made country
more secure
C. An Era of Inventions
Waterwheels
Iron drill bits to mine salt
Steel
Paper
Discovered certain foods that prevent disease and herbs that cure illness
Acupuncture
rudder
III. The Silk Road
Large network of trade routes that stretched 4000 miles from western China to southwest Asia
Silk was most valuable trade product
[Han Wudi sent out general to explore areas west of China and he returned talking of a mighty
empire to the west with large cities full of people who cut their hair short, wear embroidered clothes,
and ride in small chariots…ROME]
Merchants paid taxes to many kingdoms so they only traded the most valuable: silk, spices, tea,
and porcelain
IV. Major Changes in China
After Wudi, Han emperors were weak and foolish-lost respect and power
Dishonest officials and greedy aristocrats caused unrest among farmers
Wars, rebellions, and plots against the emperor ended Han dynasty
220, civil war and nomads invade
Buddhist ideas helped people cope with the stress and their fear