Ch’in (Qin) Dynasty

221 B.C.-------206 B.C

Ch’in Dynasty

Ch’in DynastyFacts

--Smallest and most remote of the Zhou dependencies

--They valued frugality, hard work and discipline

--Virtually no art, culture, music, literature or theater. Book learning was condemned.

Ch’in DynastyGovernment

Legalists—influenced by Hsun-tzu’s view of

human nature and Mo-tzu’s utilitarianism.

Han Fei-tzu—chief essays of legalism. He

stressed the need for severe laws and harsh

punishments as the only way to establish order.

Ch’in DynastyShi Huang Ti—he built a new capital at Hsian

Yang in the Wei River Valley.

Policies

Primogeniture—(eldest son inherits property

and status) was abolished.

Slavery—abolished except for domestic servants

Laws—applied to all even aristocrats

Ch’in DynastyWorks Projects

--Imperial System of roads and canals

--His own tomb

--The Great Wall

Ch’in Dynasty

Ch’in Authoritarianism

Burning of books

Highly developed police system

Travel restricted

Ch’in Dynasty

Han Dynasty

202 B.C.-------220 A.D.

Han Dynasty

Liu BangFounded the Han in 202

from peasant origins

Han Kao-tsu (High

Progenitor)

First Emperor

Liu BangAbolished

Restrictions on travel

Controls on Education

High Taxes

Retained

Conscription in the Army

Forced Labor for works projects

Han Wu TiRuled 141-87 B.C.

Government

Ever-Normal Granary System—

Prevented famine by collecting grain in good years for sale at controlled prices during

lean years

Han DynastyGovernment

Confucianism the State philosophy.

Why?

Government

Imperial Exams—

Had to learn the Five Classics

They helped to lessen corruption, mediocrity and ineffectiveness.

Trade and Commerce

Silk RoadSilk was the main export from China andwas in demand in the West.

Chang Ch’ien was captured by a Turkishcavalry group for ten years. He returned in 126 B.C. with grapevine cuttings, alfalfaseeds and news of Rome.

Trade and Commerce

Trade and Commerce

Parthians the middle men of the Silk Road.

They feared direct contact between China

and Rome.

The Han had meet the Parthians in 97 A.D.

and told them to turn back.

Achievements

Paper—appeared at the end of the first century B.C.

Porcelain—glazed, nonporous ware, aka

China.

Wheelbarrow—wheel centered in the middle

Achievements

Ssu-ma Ch’ien (Simaqien)

China’s grand historian, he replaced many

of the historical records destroyed by the

Ch’in.

Han SculptureDrum Jar

Han Sculpture

Han Sculpture

Han Decline and Collapse

Emperors of the last century were weak

--High taxation

--Large land owners taxed less

--Peasants fled to the south

--Barbarians

The Six Dynasties(220-589)

Period of the Three Kingdoms

(220-290)

Shu, Wei and the Wu

Sui Dynasty

Sui Dynasty (581-618)

Sui Wen Ti founded the Sui

Yang Ti (604-618) builds canal from

Hangzhou in the south to Kaifeng in the

North.

He rebuilds the Great Wall

Achievements

Gunpowder

Coal as a fuel source

Magnetized needle for north

T’ang Dynasty(618-907)

Li shih-min—founder of the T’ang, Chinese

and Barbarian blood.

He takes the title of T’ai Tsung (Tai zong)

which means Great Ancestor.

T’ang Dynasty

Government

Maintained the Civil Service Exam.

Government officials were known as

Mandarians.

Rule of Avoidance

Board of Censors

Government

Public Works

Rebuilt the roads of the Ch’in and the

Han. They included post stations along

the road every ten miles to rest or

change horses.

T’ang Achievements

Government

Military

The T’ang army was led by

aristocratic families. Horses were a

prized possession. Many mounted

warriors had crossbows, lances and

swords.

T’ang Art

Earthenware with polychrome glaze 725 AD. Glaze is a fine cobalt blue

Artsmia.org

T’ang Art

Artsmia.org

T’ang Decline and Collapse

--Peasants and small land owners paid the most in taxes

--Imperial Land Grants resulted in land not being taxed

--Corvee Labor no longer enforced, which was required of all fit males

--Mercenaries cost money troops developed loyalty to regional commanders

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