Strong Rulers Unite China

Do Now U2D18

Do Now: Complete the “Philosophy and Religion in China” chart and questions

HW: Study for your Unit 2 Exam on Monday. (Review Sheet will be posted on the course website today)

A Basic definition

Feudalism: loosely organized system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other support to a greater king (Think kings with lords controlling land in the countryside)

Qin Dynasty 221-206BCE

The story of the Qin Dynasty in China is one of harsh rule and ruthless social policy

Setting the scene

In China, in 221 BCE, a man named Zheng conquered the Zhou Dynasty

“…cracking his long whip, he drove the universe before him, swallowing up the eastern and western Zhou and overthrowing the feudal lords…”

Shi Huangdi

Zheng becomes Shi Huangdi

In 221 BCE, Zheng proclaims himself Shi Huangdi, “First Emperor”

Methods were brutal, but he ushered in China’s classical age

Historians call this classical because it set patterns in government, philosophy, religion, science, and the arts that served as the framework for later cultures in China

Shi Huangdi and Chinese Unity

Determined to end divisions that splintered the Zhou Dynasty

After conquering warring states, he employed Legalist advisors to create harsh rule in China

Emperor Shi Huangdi abolished feudalism Replaced feudalism with 36 Military Districts and

appointed local officials to report back to him Sent spies to monitor the local officials Required all noble families to live in the capital

of Xianyang Peasants received nobles land, but had to pay

high taxes on the land

Question!

What is the benefit of having all the noble families move to the capital city with Shi Huangdi?

Unity continues

Shi Huangdi… Standardized weights and measures Created a standard currency with Qin

coins Created uniform Chinese writing Workers repaired roads and canals for

trade Required cart axles to be the same

width so that wheels could run in the same ruts on Chinese roads

Scales and standard currency

Crackdown on dissent

Shi Huangdi moved harshly against critics Jailed, tortured, killed many who opposed his

rule Hardest hit were feudal lords and Confucian

scholars who hated his law

Approved book burning of all philosophy books and all works of literature Only books about medicine and agriculture

were spared

Shi Huangdi’s most famous achievement

The Great Wall of China

In the past, feudal states had built walls for protection Shi Huangdi ordered the feudal lord walls

destroyed New walls were to be built and connected Hundreds of thousands of laborers worked on

the wall Estimated 500,000 people died building the wall

Wall is over 25 feet in many parts Shi Huangdi wanted a wall that would unite

China and move it from the “warring states” period

Collapse of the Qin Dynasty

Shi Huangdi thought his empire would last forever Died in 210 BCE

Anger over heavy taxes and harsh policies caused revolts to explode all over China

An illiterate peasant leader, LIU BANG, defeated rival armies and created the HAN DYNASTY

Like others, Liu Bang claimed to have the MANDATE OF HEAVEN