1. Chapter 6 First Age of Empires, in China
An Empire Unifies China
Qin and Han Dynasties

2. 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)

3. Chinese Philosophy - Confucius

4. 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

5. 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

6. Chinese Philosophy – Yin & Yang

7. 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

8. Great Wall of China

9. 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’?

10. Terra Cotta Army

11. Han Restore Unity in China
Civil War after Qin 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

12. 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 AD
collar harness
Water mills / ship rudders
Commerce
monopoly - govt exclusivity
silk trade

13. Silk Road