Chapter 6 First Age of Empires, in China An Empire Unifies China Qin and Han Dynasties
Chinese Philosophy Confucious Goal China’s most influential scholar ethics not religion Goal restore social order / harmony restore good government advisor to war Zhou warlords kind and virtuous rulers = loyal and law-abiding subjects Importance of education filial piety - children’s respect for parents and elders Analects record of Confucian words Foundation for gov’t and social order (bureaucracy)
Chinese Philosophy - Confucius
Chinese Philosophy Laozi natural order guides all things Legalism Daoism Dao De Ching (The Way of Virtue) Dao - “the Way” Universal force guides all things nature instead of political chaos Live simply & in harmony with nature Legalism efficient and powerful government restores order rich rewards harsh punishments discourage government criticism Legalism wins out
An Empire Unifies China Other philosophies I Ching The Book of Changes oracles coins good advice / common sense yin and yang rhythms of the universe complementary nature yang - masculine qualities yin - feminine qualities
Chinese Philosophy – Yin & Yang
An Empire Unifies China Qin Dynasty replaced the Zhou Dynasty Shihuangdi (Shi Huangdi) ‘First Emperor’ Legalist theory Law and order Officials appointed by emperor autocracy - unlimited power Highly centralized Outlawed primogeniture Land to peasants Result unification of China
Great Wall of China
An Empire Unifies China Shi Huangdi Legacy book burning forced peasant labor Great Wall of China Joined existing walls work or die Xiongnu nomads Autocracy Terra cotta soldiers How does this fit-in with the concept of ‘Mandate of Heaven’?
Terra Cotta Army
Han Restore Unity in China Civil War after Qin - 206 - 202 BC Han Dynasty centralized government reduced strict Legalism Liu Bang – founder Wudi Martial Emperor established civil service schools Added C. Asia and Vietnam Aristocrats regain land Rise of tenant farming
Han Government Structure civil service Technology Commerce high taxes (merchants) % of crops (farmers) military service / projects civil service government jobs by exams Confucian ideals meritocracy Technology paper - 105 AD collar harness Water mills / ship rudders Commerce monopoly - govt exclusivity silk trade
Silk Road