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The Qin and Han
Dynasties
Chapter 5
Section 3
Did You Know?
 The Great Wall of China stretches about 1,500
miles across northern China.
 Today, sections of the Great Wall are
deteriorating from natural erosion.
Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
 Qin was a ruler of a local state (Qin) during Zhou
dynasty.
 He gradually took over neighboring states and declared
himself Qin Shihuangdi. What does this name mean?
 First Qin Emperor
 Qin’s rule was based on what philosophy?
 Legalism.
Emperor Qin Shihuangdi
 What are some ways that Qin united China?
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created one type of currency, or money
ordered the building of roads and buildings
connected the Chang Jiang to Guangzhou by a canal
standardized units of weights and measures
made an even stronger central government
 Why was The Great Wall of China built?
 to protect the Chinese from the Xiongnu, a nomadic people
living north of China.
 Chinese people believed Qin was a harsh ruler, and
they overthrew his dynasty after his death.
Discussion Question
 What are some examples of Qin Shihuangdi’s
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cruelty in ruling his people?
Qin punished or killed anyone who opposed
him.
He forced farmers to leave their farms to build
the Great Wall of China.
He reduced the power of aristocrats.
He also burned scholars’ writings.
The Han Dynasty
 Who founded the Han dynasty in 202 B.C.?
 Liu Bang
 It reached its peak during the rule of whom?
 Han Wudi
 What began when Han Wudi started testing potential
government employees?
 Civil service examinations
 Students prepared for many years to take the exams. Who
did they favor?
 The rich, who could afford to educate their sons for the exams.
The Han Dynasty
 The population tripled during the Han dynasty.
 Why did farmers have little land during the Han
dynasty?
 Farmers had to divide their land among more and more
sons, which left them with very little land.
 What did farmers have to do in order to survive?
 Farmers sold their land to aristocrats and became tenant
farmers.
The Han Dynasty continued
 New forms of literature and art appeared during the
Han dynasty, and the idea of filial piety became very
strong.
 What new products did the Chinese invent during the
Han dynasty?
 The waterwheel (to grind grain), the rudder, drill bits (to
mine for salt), steel, and paper (to keep government
records.)
 What is the Chinese medical practice of easing pain
by sticking needles into patients’ skin called?
 acupuncture
Discussion Question
 How did the invention of the rudder change
Chinese trade?
 With the rudder, the Chinese could move
ships’ sails differently.
 Ships could now sail into the wind rather than
with it.
 This meant Chinese ships could travel to the
islands of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean.
The Silk Road
 What was the most valuable trade product?
 Silk
 The Silk Road was an overland trade route extending from
_______ to ______.
 western China to southwest Asia (for 4,000 miles.)
 Why was travel along the Silk Road difficult?
 Terrain was difficult and changed a lot
 As a result, the same animals and carts couldn’t survive the whole trip,
so many merchants stopped after part of the journey and sold their
goods. Each trader charged more money to the next person which
resulted in only high-priced goods like silk, spices, tea, and porcelain
being traded.
 The Silk Road brought Chinese merchants in contact with
many different civilizations, which led to what?
 an exchange of goods and ideas.
Discussion Question
 What empire had General Zhang Qian
encountered during his 13-year trip west, and
how did he describe it upon his return?
 He described the Roman Empire and its large
cities with people wearing embroidered clothes
and driving chariots.
Major Changes in China
 What religion spread from India to China?
 Buddhism
 The Han dynasty fell after wars, rebellions, and plots
against the emperor. What resulted?
 Civil war began, and nomads invaded the country before
the government collapsed.
 Why did people turn to Buddhism during this time of
civil war?
 People felt unsafe and it helped them cope with the chaotic
times.
Discussion Question
 How did Buddhism become popular in China?
 First, merchants and teachers (aka scholars)
from India brought Buddhism to China.
 During the unrest of the fall of the Han
dynasty, people found comfort in the teachings
of Buddhism, and more people began
practicing the Buddhist religion. By the 400s
A.D., Buddhism had become popular in China.