The Qin and Han Dynasties

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The Qin and Han Dynasties
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Four Chinese Dynasties
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Qin Shihuangdi
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Emperor Qin Shihuangdi

• Qin was a ruler of a local state during the Zhou
  dynasty
• He gradually took over neighboring states and
  declared himself Qin Shihuangdi, or First Qin
  Emperor.

• Qins rule was based on Legalism
• Qin abolished the officials authority to pass
  their posts on to their sons.
• He also censored ideas he found to be offensive
  or dangerous.

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Emperor Qin Shihuangdi

• He became the only person authorized to fill
  empty posts.
• Qin united China, created one type of currency,
  ordered the building of roads and buildings, and
  connected the Chang Jiang to central China by
  canal.

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Emperor Qin Shihuangdi

• The Great Wall of China was built to protect the
  Chinese from the Xiongnu, a nomadic people living
  north of China. Built over many dynasties, but
  started with the Qin.
• Chinese people believed Qin Shihuangdi was a
  harsh ruler, and they overthrew his dynasty after
  his death.

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The Qin and Han Dynasties

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The Han Dynasty

• Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty in 202 B.C.
• He was from a poor family, but had good advisors.
  Knew that cruelty was a recipe for being
  overthrown. Lowered taxes and the economy
  flourished.

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The Han Dynasty

• The population tripled during the Han dynasty.
• Farmers had to divide their land among more and
  more sons, which left them with very little land
• Farmers sold their land to aristocrats and became
  tenant farmers to survive.

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Han Government

• Strong Central government. Why?
• Because a strong central government can easily
  rule a larger area.
• Civil Service established. This is a MAJOR
  contribution of the Han.
• People tested for their positions in government
  not hereditary.
• Students prepared for many years to
  take the
  exams.
• First exams given under Emperor Wudi, the 5th Han
  Emperor, and the most famous Han Emperor.

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Travels West

• Wudi wanted to find allies to fight the Xiongnu
  (Mongols) so he sent a General, Zhang Qian to
  find tribes to attack the Mongols.
• Gen. Qian was captured by the Mongols, but
  encountered Romans in the areas around
  Mesopotamia described them when he returned
  home.
• China moved west slightly, and that opened up
  trade routes.

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The Silk Road

• Silk was the most valuable trade product.
• The Silk Road was an overland trade route
  extended from western China to southwest Asia.

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Han Social Order

• Han social order based on Confucius valued
  mental and physical labor. Scholars important.
• Anyone who made something (farmers grew food,
  artisans respected for skills). Merchants were
  not respected because they didnt make anything
  of importance.
• Slavery did exist.
• Legal punishment
• Family sold off a family member to pay a debt.

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Han Social Order

• Remember Confucius teachings? Adult children
  who disrespected parents were punished under the
  law.
• Women treated well, but rarely educated.

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Important Han Achievements

• Arts painting, sculpture, poetry. Also,
  calligraphy developed.
• Created lacquer from tree sap protective coating
  that was put on wood and made it stronger.
• Science Calculated solar year, created herbal
  medicines, and came up with acupuncture.
• Inventions waterwheel, the rudder, drill bits,
  steel, paper, seismometer, and wheel barrows

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Important Han Achievements

• Arts painting, sculpture, poetry. Also,
  calligraphy developed.
• Created lacquer from tree sap protective coating
  that was put on wood and made it stronger.
• Science Calculated solar year, created herbal
  medicines, and came up with acupuncture.
• Inventions waterwheel, the rudder, drill bits,
  steel, paper, seismometer, and wheel barrows

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Major Changes in China

• Buddhism spread from India to China.
• Buddhism helped people cope with the chaotic
  times.
• The Han dynasty fell after wars, rebellions, and
  plots against the emperor.
• Civil war began, and nomads invaded the country
  before the government collapsed.

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The Qin and Han Dynasties

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.
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The Qin and Han Dynasties

What empire had General Zhang Qian encountered
during his 13-year trip west and how did he
describe it upon his return?
He had visited the Roman Empire and described the
large cities with people wearing embroidered
clothes and driving chariots.
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The Qin and Han Dynasties

How did Buddhism become popular in China?
First, merchants 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.