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Ch'in and Han Dynasty China
I.
Ch'in Dynasty and the Creation of Empire
A. Ch'in - Winner of the Warring States
1. Western-most - semi-Turkic group
2. Skilled horsemen -- formidable mobile cavalry
B. Empire
1. Chin Shi Huang-ti (259-211 BC) "First
Emperor"
(Qin Shihaundi)
a. 256 BC - Ch'in defeat and kills the last of
the Chou kings
b. 221 BC - defeat the last of the Warring
States - unifies China
c. Brings strong centralized rule, but
remembered as a great tyrant
d. Legalism: "a fishing net through which the
smallest fish cannot slip out"
2.
End of feudalism
a.
Forced 120,000 aristocratic families to live at
capital
b.
Civilian population forced to surrender all weapons
c.
Replaced with an extensive bureaucracy
3.
Pursued a number of policies to achieve unification
a.
Weights and measures standardized
b.
Money standardized
c.
Axles standardized
d.
Writing standardized
e.
Ordered construction of Great Wall - 1400 miles
long "Every stone cost a human life"
f.
Insisted on ideological unity - Burning of the Books
g.
460 scholars (families) beheaded - 213 BC
4.
Collapse of dynasty
a. Feared assassination, built numerous
palaces (copies of those of defeated lords)
b. Built giant, fantastic tomb: 1/2 million
laborers, Terra Cotta Figures (Est. 7000)
c. Taxes, unpaid labor cause unrest
d. Dynasty self destructed (by 207 BC)
entirely after his death in 211 BC
5. Lasting impact in creating unified society
II.
Han China
A. Han Dynasty - 206BC-221AD
1. Capitalizes on unification brought about by
Ch'in Dynasty
2. Founded after several years of civil war.
3. One of greatest dynasties in history.
B. Founded by Liu Pang (195 BC) - Peasant warrior
C. Emperor Wu-ti (140-87 BC)
1. Regarded as greatest emperor of Han Dynasty
2. Expanded empire south, into Korea, and into
Central Asia
3. Established trading contacts with South Asia
4. Established the Silk Road, opening trade with
Romans
D.
Awesome inventions and potential World Power:
1. Iron Tools, Blast Furnace, Casting (6th century
BC)
2. Paper (200 BC)
3. Compass (200 AD)
4. Rudder Ships
5. Gun Powder (3rd Century AD): Cannons
6. Wheelbarrow
7. Stirrups
8. Seismograph
E.
Expanded trade and development of industries
1. Importation of rice from Vietnam - more
food=more Chinese
2. Shipped silk, iron, furs, to the West, imported
glassware
3. Buddhism introduced into China by trade
routes
4. Wealth from trade also produced a flourishing
in the arts
F.
G.
Confucianism becomes official philosophy of government
1.
First civil service exam in 165 BC
2.
Academies established for training
3.
Led to rise of the scholar-gentry; soldiers and
merchants disdained
a.
Social mobility based on education
b.
Confucians stood as moral judges of imperial
policy
Decline of Han during its lat 100 years
1.
Series of child emperors led to lack of trust
2.
Decline of scholar-gentry, rise of Taoists, eunuchs,
merchants, soldiers
3.
Corruption led to increasing taxes, which led to
rebellion
4.
Need to raise army to fight rebellions led to
militarization
5.
Broke apart into three fighting kingdoms