AP World History: Imperial China: The Qin and Han

Dynasties

The Qin Dynasty 221-206 B.C. E

The Han Dynasty 206 B.C.E- 200C.E.

Presentation Outline

1. Geography of Qin and Han Dynasties

2. The Qin Dynasty and the First Emperor

3. The Qin Dynasty and Legalism

4. The Fall of the Qin Dynasty

5. The Han Dynasty: Daily Life

6. The Han Dynasty: Merchants and Craftsmen

7. The Han Dynasty: Education

8. The Han Dynasty: Trade

9. New Ideas and Philosophies

1. Geography of Qin and Han Dynasties

Both Dynasties between two major river valleys: Yellow and Yangtze rivers

Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.E) capital Xianyang- short-lived dynasty

Han Dynasty (206B.C.E- 200 C.E.)

capitals: Chang’an, Luoyang, and Xuchang

Significantly larger territory than Qin Empire

Note how much larger the Han Dynasty was- it extended westwards to the Silk Road

2. The Qin Dynasty And The First Emperor

The Qin Dynasty emerged as the dominating state after a period of infighting between six eastern Chinese states

To maintain control over their empire the Qin Kings centralized their power

The first Qin King called himself the First Emperor

Centralization, the process of decision making and control are concentrated to a specific group

The Qin Dynasty And The First Emperor

Government rules of operations and legal codes applied to all parts of empire

Introduced standardized money, writing and measurement system

Government controlled education and thought Teachers and the educated who dissented with Qin rule

were put to death or banished Censorship was enacted towards Confucian scholars and

teachings Censorship is when a government suppresses speech or the

written word it finds critical or objectionable

The Qin Dynasty And The First Emperor

The Great Wall was built to stop invasions of nomadic people who were raiding frontier of Qin empire

Great Wall is a combinations of four wall systems of various construction quality

Was built by forced labor and oppressive taxes Wall is 3,754 miles long and housed soldiers who

fought invaders from towers and fortresses

3.The Qin Dynasty And Legalism

Under Legalism the law was the supreme authority and all people were equal under the eyes of the law

Positions in government had power, power did not lie in people and it was government’s duty to rule not people

No true creator to legalism but was influenced by writings of supporters of a strong government

4. The Fall of the Qin

Oppressive treatment of the peasants including forced labor to build the Great Wall led to unrest

High taxes led to revolts The Qin Emperor began murdering his rivals Armies sprang up to defeat the Qin Emperor

around 204-206 B.C.E

5. The Han Dynasty: Daily Life

1 out 10 lived in walled cities that had planned streets and blocks

Government buildings and trade centers were incorporated into city design

Poor lived in shanty homes, young men joined gangs and wore identifying clothes and terrorized people

The rich lived in lavish large decorated homes in secluded areas of the city

Wealthy wore the nicest and most comfortable clothes

6. The Han Dynasty: The Merchants and The Craftsmen

Merchant a successful occupation and rank but it was despised

Rich and poor despised them because they were they were not born rich and did not farm the land

Laws were passed to ban the merchant class from owning chariots and horses

7. The Han Dynasty: Education

Public schools introduced because of belief that the educated were key to good government

Wealthy went to private schools and taught math, sciences, literature, religion and arts

Jobs were given to educated people who received pay for their work

7. Han Dynasty Trade: The Silk Road

Silk Road, was a major trade route which sold China’s secret commodity (silk)

Chinese Silk Road connected China to the Roman Empire

Silk Road was protected by Great Wall

Employed mandatory military service to maintain empire

8. New Ideas and Philosophies

Confucianism Taoism Buddhism

Taoism

Taoism is a philosophy, a way of looking at life and a way of thinking about things

Taoists believe if you look at life and think about things in the right way, you'll be much happier

Taoists believe it's very important to discover who we are

Confucianism

Confucius born 551 B.C. to wealthy family who eventual became poor

Passionate about learning believed to be most educated in China and sought out as teacher

Confucianism stresses the need to develop responsibility and moral behavior through rigid rules of behavior

It stressed a way of behaving, so you’ll do the right things

Buddhism Originated in India by Prince

Siddhartha Gautama around 500 B.C.E

The Prince was saddened by all the suffering and misery he saw and believed that true enlightenment only comes from suffering and meditation by living the life of a monk

Philosophy and religion brought to China by traders around 20-100 C.E.