WHAP China Qin and Han Qin and Han

WHAP China Qin and Han

Qin and Han • End of Zhou Dynasty referred to as “Warring States Period” • 3 influential belief systems developed • 1) Legalism- Humans naturally evil, obey authority through fear or force. Strict laws, harsh punishments, and sacrifice of personal freedom needed for good of state.

Qin and Han • Daoism- Founded by Laozi. Follow Dao “the path”. Political and military ambitions are wasteful, instead retreat to nature. • Confucianism- hierarchal relationships needed for orderly society. Responsibilities based upon social role= Family is foundation for society and stresses duty and courtesey.

Han Fei, Laozi, Confucius

Qin and Han • Qin army takes control due to organization and iron weapons • New strong central authority- king declares himself the first emperor (Shi Huangdi) 221 -210 BCE • Adapts legalism and uses an organized bureaucracy (non-hereditary), builds roads/ canals (increase trade)and begins construction on Great Wall of China Emperor persecutes critics (confucians) and orders books on philosophy, ethics, history and literature burned. Scholars who disagreed buried alive or sent to work on wall.

Qin and Han • Standardized writing script (Shang), laws, currency. Peasants can own land. Empire expanded (south and east). • Han Dynasty (206 -220 CE) Founded by Liu Bang • Embrace of Confucianism over Legalism • Han Wudi (140 -87 BCE) Forces nobles to divide land among sons. Wudi rule prosperous- Pax Sinica (Chinese Peace) • Empire expands (northern Korea conquered)

Shi Huangdi’s Terra Cotta Army

Qin and Han • Emperor lives in forbidden city (only family, servants, close advisors allowed) • Most important export was silk (production secret gives China silk monopoly) Silk Road network. Paper invented, accurate calendar, improved farming techniques. • Scholar bureaucrats (Shi) most highly regarded. Merchants not well respected • University founded at Xi’an to prepare young scholars for bureaucracy- examinations based on Confucian texts (civil service exam) Highest scores got best jobs (no longer hereditary)

Forbidden City

Qin and Han • 3 social classes of Han - Scholar gentry – wealth derived from land holding and positions in government. Wealth gives advantage for sons to focus on training for government positions (open to everyone) - Free citizens- peasants, some who own small plots of land others who pay landlord. (forced work on government projects, army)

Qin and Han - Underclass- bandits, beggars, skilled artisans, foreigners, slaves (limited compared to Rome, mostly servants) - Arranged marriages- women subordinate Art includes: Jade/ivory carvings Woven silk screens Calligraphy

Qin and Han • Scientific experimentation- acupuncture • Han Dynasty ends 220 C. E. Decline Reasons - Difficulty defending border - Protection from invasion expensive - Aristocracy increases wealth/power - Corruption/ inefficacy in government - Peasant uprisings (Yellow Turban Rebellion) several million die. - Disease ( smallpox, measles, etc. ) spread on silk road decimates China’s population (perhaps by ¼).