Download Lecture: Chinese Empire

Chinese Empire
By Mrs. Hoff
China begins around 2200 BCE
• China was defined by the ideal of a centralized
state
• The Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties enlarged
the Chinese state
• The ruler was the “Son of Heaven,” an
intermediary between heaven and earth
China begins around 2200 BCE
• Early written language
with oracle bones were
early documents
• China has maintained
impressive cultural
continuity into modern
times
Restoration of China
• Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties
had created a Chinese state
– The system fell apart by 500
B.C.E.
• Then began the age of warring
states: seven competing
kingdoms vying for power.
– multiple states were regarded as
unnatural
Unification by Shi Huangdi, ruler of Qin
(r. 221–210 BCE)
• Adopted Legalism as
political philosophy: clear
rules and harsh
punishments to enforce
state authority
• Shi Huangdi means “first
emperor”; Qin is his family
name, so Qin Shi Huangdi
and Qin Dynasty.
Creation of Empire was Brutal
• Qin used military force to keep order
– Execution of scholars, book burning
• Hundreds of thousands of laborers built Great
Wall
• Shihuangdi’s monumental tomb has about
7,500 life-size ceramic statues
Qin Dynasty
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Strong, efficient government
Standardized writing
Standardized weights and measures
Minted their own standardized coins
Created standardized royal roads
Standardized axle widths
End of the Qin
• Qin dynasty collapsed in 206 B.C.E
• Next is the Han dynasty (206 b.c.e.–220 C.E.)
• The Han kept Qin centralization
– less harsh
Han Empire
• Silk Road became very important during
this period. This promotes trade and
leads to greater innovations because of
the movement of people, goods, and
ideas.
Consolidating the Chinese Empire
• Chinese emperor as Son of
Heaven
– rule by Mandate of Heaven
– dependent on just rule
– heavy ritual duties to maintain
relationship between earth and
heaven
– moral government spelled out by
writings of Confucius and his
followers
(The Chinese Oracle
symbol for “Tian” or
Heaven
Buddhism
• Spread to China through
trade routes
• Not very popular until
collapse of Han dynasty
– temporary state support
under Sui dynasty
– never dominate in China
Assimilation
• Ethnic Chinese had a
large cultural
heartland
• The Chinese actively
assimilated
“barbarians”
Chinese Language
• Chinese characters (represented words or
ideas) could not be transferred easily to other
languages
• All literate people could understand written
Chinese
– Very important in assimilating the elites
Bureaucracy
• Chinese emperor Wudi (r. 141–87
B.C.E) established an academy to
train officials based on works of
Confucius
• Developed into civil service system
– lasted until twentieth century
Confucian Relationships
• Superior
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Ruler
Husband
Parent
Elder Brother
Friend
• Subordinate
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Ruled
Wife
Child
Younger Brother
Friend