1. Classical China: Qin and Han Dynasties

2. Zhou Dynasty ( BCE)
Overthrew Shang Dynasty by claiming the Mandate of Heaven
Kings ruled with a decentralized government
Disorder of this era influenced Confucius and Laozi

3. Zhou Dynasty ( BCE)
Son of Heaven: title of the Chinese emperor
Served as an intermediary between heaven and earth by performing rituals and sacrifices
Mandate of Heaven: emperor could rule as long as he was benevolent towards the people and maintained harmony

4. Qin Dynasty ( BCE)
Era of Warring States ( BCE): seven competing kingdoms
Shihuangdi (r BCE) defeated others and became the “first emperor”
Advanced army, elaborate bureaucracy
Used Legalism to rule empire
Standardized weights, measures, currency, axle lengths
Began construction of a northern wall, canals
Established written Chinese language

5. Qin Dynasty ( BCE)

6. Legalism Political philosophy used by Shihuangdi
Burned Confucian texts and killed Confucian scholars
The state, law, and the position of the ruler had ultimate authority
Rules were publicly posted
Strict rewards and punishments were enforced
Viewed soldiers and farmers as only essential members of society

7. Mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi

8. Mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi
Built between BCE
Possessions were meant to accompany the emperor into the afterlife
6,000 terracotta warriors
Booby traps
Workers were buried inside the tomb

9. Mausoleum of Qin Shihuangdi

10. Han Dynasty (206 BCE-221 CE)
Civil war erupted after Shihuangdi’s death
Han dynasty founded by Emperor Gaozu (r BCE)
Capital at Chang’an
Assimilated non-Chinese people
Emperor Wu (r BCE)
Confucianism became official government philosophy
Nationalized salt and iron industries
Repelled nomadic Xiongnu from the north

11. Han Dynasty (206 BCE-221 CE)

12. Imperial Bureaucracy
Emperor Wu established the Imperial University to train officials
Different levels of civil service examinations to enter the bureaucracy
Exams based on Confucian writings, math, literature, history
Officials selected due to merit and morality over wealth and status
Favored wealthy families who could afford intensive schooling for their sons
Bureaucratic officials gained power, prestige

13. Confucianism Confucius (551-479 BCE) Five unequal relationships
Philosopher and government official
Saw the family as the ideal basis for government
Social harmony occurred by following the example of your superiors
Five unequal relationships
Ruler to ruled
Father to son
Husband to wife
Elder brother to younger brother
Friend to friend

14. Confucianism
Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
Moral example of superiors should guide action
Education led to moral betterment
Try to cultivate ren: benevolence, goodness
Harmonious family life was essential
Reverence of ancestors
Filial piety: Honor of one’s parents and ancestors

15. Patriarchy and Confucianism
Balance in the cosmos
Heaven (male) and earth (female)
Virtues for ideal men
Wen (rationality, scholarship)
Wu (physical and martial ability)
“Three Obediences” for women
Father
Husband
Son

16. Daoism Founded by Laozi (ca. 6th century BCE)
Encouraged withdrawal to nature to find harmony
Rejection of formal education, political and social involvements and ambitions
Dao: the way, the path
The way or principle that governs nature
Simplicity in living, limited government
Ma Lin, Quietly Listening to the Wind in the Pines

17. Daoism Family life was central to a harmonious society
Yin (dark, female) and yang (light, male)
Male and female were complementary

18. Han Society Emperor Aristocracy Scholar-gentry Farmers Artisans
Rich landowners
Scholar-gentry
Developing class who became bureaucrats
Farmers
Vast majority of Chinese population
Artisans
Merchants
Viewed as materialistic, profiting from others

19. Peasant Farmers in Han China
Majority of Chinese population were small farmers
Crippled by high rents to large landowners, military service, state-mandated labor, natural disasters
Wang Mang (r CE)
Overthrew Han dynasty
Outlawed slavery, equally distributed all land
Yellow Turban Rebellion ( CE)
Flooding of Yellow River caused 360,000 peasants to rebel
Inspired by Daoist utopian ideals

20. Han Economy and Science
Silk Roads connected China to trade with India, Middle East, and the Roman Empire
Standardized coin money created by the imperial mint
Invented paper
Farming improvements
Iron plow, yoke
Negative numbers, seismograph, 365 day calendar

21. Decline and Fall of the Han Dynasty
Empire became too big to maintain
Court eunuchs and aristocracy fought for power
Large landowning families gained power
Epidemic diseases
Smallpox, bubonic plagues reduced population by as much as one fourth
Yellow Turban Rebellion ( CE)
Frequent invasions by northern nomads
Emperor overthrown, three rival kingdoms created

22. Shang-Han Dynasties