ANCIENT CHINA SECTION 3 THE QIN DYNASTY THE

ANCIENT CHINA SECTION 3: THE QIN DYNASTY

THE QIN EMPEROR’S STRONG GOVERNMENT • THE QIN DYNASTY UNITED CHINA UNDER ONE GOVERNMENT • YING ZHENG, THE QIN KING, SUCCEEDED IN UNIFYINGCHINA • GAVE HIMSELF THE TITLE SHI HUANGDI (MEANS “FIRST EMPEROR”) • FOLLOWED LEGALIST BELIEFS • CREATED A STRONG GOVERNMENT WITH STRICT LAWS AND HARSH PUNISHMENTS

• EMPEROR SHI HUANGDI – POLICIES • STRONG GOVERNMENT WITH STRICT LAWS • DIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS – EACH WITH ITS OWN GOVERNOR • DISTRICTS WERE SUBDIVIDED INTO COUNTIES THAT WERE GOVERNED BY APPOINTS OFFICIALS • STANDARD LAWS, WRITING SYSTEM, MONEY, AND WEIGHTS THROUGHOUTCHINA

A UNIFIED CHINA • EMPEROR SHI HUANGDI – ACHIEVEMENTS • UNIFIED CHINA • BUILT NETWORK OF ROADS ANDCANALS • ROADS – CONNECTED THE CAPITAL TO EVER PART OF THE EMPIRE • CANALS – TO CONNECT THE COUNTRY’S RIVERS • BUILT IRRIGATION SYSTEM TO IMPROVEFARMING • BUILT THE GREAT WALL ACROSS NORTHERN CHINA • NOMADS FROM THE NORTH WERE FIERCE WARRIORS – THEY WERE A THREAT TO CHINA

THE FALL OF THE QIN • SHI HUANGDI’S POLICIES STIRRED RESENTMENT • MANY PEASANTS, SCHOLARS, AND NOBLES HARED HIS HARSH WAYS • WHEN HE DIED, CHINA WAS UNIFIED – THIS DIDN’T LAST LONG • REBEL FORCES FORMED ACROSS THE COUNTRY • EACH CLAIMED TO HAVE THEMANDATE OF HEAVEN TO REPLACE THE EMPEROR • ONE GROUP ATTACKED THE QIN CAPITAL, AND THE NEW EMPEROR SURRENDERED • QIN AUTHORITY HAD DISAPPEARED • WITH NO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, THE COUNTRY FELL INTO CIVIL WAR