Ancient ChinaUniting China – Lesson 3

The First Chinese Empire

Qin – small state in Western region (Wei River Valley)

During Warring States, Qin generals conquered other states

army rode horses iron weapons

Zhou fell 256BC – Qin most powerful state

246BC - 13 year old became king of Qin

The First Chinese Empire

By 221BC, Qin controlled all Northern states = first empire

King changed name to Qin Shi Huangdi “First Emperor of China”

Qin empire lasted only15 years

Made changes that had lasting influence

The First Chinese Empire

China – comes from name Qin

Shi Huangdi ruled by fear = LegalismABSOLUTE POWER

Able to create efficient government – but cruel

Laws strictly enforced – punishment severe

Those who opposed were killed.

Something to think about …

What do you need to have in order to maintain absolute power?

Building a Bureaucracy

Legalism needed strong government to control people and economy

Shi Huangdi built strong army and bureaucracy

BUREAUCRACY = large group of appointed officials

Feudal system had to goShi Huangdi wanted his officials to control land and taxes – not

feudal lords

Something to think about …

What do you think happened to the feudal kings?

Building a Bureaucracy

Land taken from nobles – some given to peasants so taxes went directly to government

To prevent nobles turning against him, Shi forced all to move to capital city (Xianyang) so officials could keep an eye on them

Further protection from rebellion – if not in army, you can’t own weapons

Building a Bureaucracy In place of feudal lands, empire

divided into districts

Shi Huangdi picked officials to manage districts

Standardization STANDARDIZATION = making

systems to same for everyone

Shi standardized money, weights and measures and writing

Standardization

To standardize writing, only 2 kinds allowed.

1 for official documents and stone carving

1 for everyday useTo improve trade – standardized coinsAlso – ordered building of canals and roads

All roads had to be same width so carts could travel on them

Standardization Education standardized – Shi Huangdi controlled all books used to teach

Any books that might question Qin ideas were burned

books on Confucianism burned

Although harsh methods, did united people and made

empire easier to control

Building a Great Wall

Defensive wall to keep out invaders from north

Shi Huangdi ordered workers to connect smaller walls that already existed

10 years – workers forced to build wall – not enough to eat, freezing weather – many died

Used available material – stone, birck, dirt

Building a Great Wall

Wall 25 feet high

20 feet wide

Over 3000 miles east – west

Soldiers kept watch from 40’ tall towers – if enemies approaching,used smoke or fire to signal next tower as so forth– continued until reached capital

BUT – invaders still attacked

Emperor’s Clay Army

Shi Huangdi planned great burial place for himself

Ordered tomb built as soon as became king (age 13)

Under construction for over 30 years – not complete when he died

Farmers in 1970 accidentally discovered tomb when drilling a well

Emperor’s Clay Army

Some parts had been robbed in ancient times, but much remained

In tomb army of larger than life-size clay soldiers holding real weapons

Each figure life-like and different than others

So far 7,000 have been uncovered

All face east – direction of kingdoms Shi Huangdi conquered

Emperor’s Clay Army

Also life-size clay horses and wood and bronze war chariots

All figures originally painted bright colors

Site extends over huge area

Something to think about …

What does Shi Huangdi’s tomb reveal about him?

Emperor’s Clay Army

Shi Huangdi buried in tomb at death in 210BC

Son became emperor, but couldn’t keep control

Officials fought for power – people in empire rebelled