1 / 136

Main Idea

“History is the present. That’s why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth.” - E. L. Doctorow 23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their rear ends. The Growth of China.

elisae
Download Presentation

Main Idea

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. “History is the present. That’s why every generation writes it anew. But what most people think of as history is its end product, myth.”- E. L. Doctorow23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their rear ends.

  2. The Growth of China Main Idea The Qin and Han dynasties created strong centralized governments that unified China and shaped Chinese civilization for thousands of years to follow.

  3. Zhou dynasty began to decline around 400 BC, power shifted to local nobles Several small states battled for land, power by 300s State of Qin rose to power Located on China’s western frontier Conquered other states in military campaigns Last rival state fell, 221 BC Qin unified Chinese empire The Qin Dynasty

  4. Harsh Qin Rule • First ruler of new empire took title Shi Huangdi, “first emperor” • Founded school of Legalism: taught that powerful, efficient government key to maintaining order • Rejection of Confucianism • Legalists rejected philosophy developed during Zhou dynasty: Confucianists thought rulers should be virtuous, lead by example • Legalists said rulers should be strong, govern through force - supported strict laws, stressed harsh punishment for even minor crimes

  5. Shang Yang

  6. Strong, Centralized Government • Shi Huangdi weakened rival nobles by taking land; forced them to move to capital • Seized all private arms to prevent rebellions and divided China into 36 districts, appointed loyalists to govern them • Maintaining Order • Shi Huangdi ruthlessly suppressed all criticism of his rule: burned all non-Legalist books (agriculture, medicine spared) and killed Confucian critics

  7. The Qin Dynasty • Qin Reforms • Harsh Qin rule unified, strengthened China • Standardized laws, writings, monetary systems, weights and measures, and width of cart axles - travel China’s roads • Massive Building Projects • Improved irrigation and increased farm production • Expanded network of roads and canals to link capital to other parts of empire • Improved transportation, increased trade, levied heavy taxes • Qin Growth and Defense • Worked to protect empire from outside threats • Qin army pushed nomadic warriors farther north, subdued areas to south • Joined separate defensive walls, came to be known as Great Wall of China

  8. Qin

  9. Han

  10. Ming

  11. Terracotta Army

  12. Dynasty’s policies fueled anger, resentment Qin dynasty crumbled after Shi Huangdi died, 210 BC Peasants fed up with forced labor, high taxes, rebelled Nobles eager to regain land, power, raised armies against new emperor Peasant rebel leader Liu Bang defeated Qin forces, founded Han dynasty Fall of the Qin

  13. Summarize How did Shi Huangdi unify China and build a strong empire? Answer(s): conquered other states; centralized government; suppressed all criticism; subdued raiders to the north, constructed Great Wall

  14. Restoring Control Gaining Loyalty • Liu Bang ruled with “mandate of heaven” • Ancient Chinese beliefs: • Gods supported virtuous rulers; Opposed corrupt ones • Defeated ruler had lost support of the gods • Liu Bang softened harsh Legalist policies • Lowered taxes, earned loyalty of peasants • Gave large blocks of land to relatives, military supporters • Distribution of land earned military’s loyalty The Han Dynasty The Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220—more than 400 years. It would be the model for all later Chinese dynasties.

  15. Confucianism Stability • Liu Bang not well educated, peasant origins • Appointed Confucian scholars to advise, serve in government • Confucianism regained popularity, shaped Han government • Some Legalist policies remained, maintained firm control over empire • Liu Bang continued Qin’s strong, centralized gov. to weaken rivals - expanded bureaucracy • Numerous officials appointed to oversee administration of Han government - helped restore stability to Chinese empire The Han Dynasty

  16. Government Philosophy Xiongnu • Wudi wanted officials to hold Confucian values • Developed civil servicesystem • Candidates had to pass exam in Confucian classics • Wealthy, influential families continued to control government • Biggest threat to Wudi’s security from nomads in steppes north of China, Xiongnu • Excellent horse skills, fierce warriors • Swept in from steppes, raided settlements along China’s frontier The Greatest Han Emperor • Height of Han Dynasty • Emperor Wudi ruled from 141 to 187 BC • Energetic, aggressive, considered greatest of all Han rulers • Promoted economic growth, new roads, canals made it easier to get products to market • Monopolies on some products; limits on merchants to limit power, wealth

  17. Han Decline • Brief crisis AD 9 when rebel Wang Mang seized throne • Han regained control, AD 25, start of Later Han dynasty • Later Han weakened by court intrigues, gap between rich and poor, high taxes crushing poor • Yellow Turban revolt AD184; Warlords, Period of Division – lasts 350 Years The Greatest Han Emperor • Expansion under Wudi • Wudi expanded empire through warfare - began to use force against southern Xiongnu tribes, 133 BC • Colonized parts of Korea, Manchuria to NE, Vietnam to S; extended control into Central Asia to west, opened trade routes

  18. Wang Mang

  19. Identify Supporting Details Why is Wudi considered to be the greatest Han emperor? Answer(s): promoted economic growth, Confucianism, civil service system, expanded empire through warfare

  20. Chinese Society and Culture Main Idea The Han dynasty was a time of social change, the growth of trade, and great achievements in the arts and sciences.

  21. Family Life Dutiful Children • Confucianism shaped Chinese society • Confucius taught that family was central to well-being of the state • Officials promoted strong family ties • Fathers head of family • Filial piety stressed • Obedience, devotion to parents, grandparents • Children served parents as they aged, honored dead at household shrines • Han officials believed dutiful children made respectful subjects • Some men even received government jobs because of respect shown parents Han Society China’s Han period was a time of great prosperity, growth and achievement, defining imperial Chinese civilization for years.

  22. Family Life • Women in China • Had fewer privileges, less status than men • Rarely received education, owned property • Sons valued more than daughters • Marriage • Sons carried on family line • Remained part of parents’ household after marriage • Daughters married and joined husband’s household • Power and Status • Older women achieved power because of Confucian respect for elders • Ban Zhao, female scholar, writer; helped write history of Han dynasty • Called for mutual respect between husbands, wives, education for women

  23. Ban Zhao

  24. Social Structure • Han society highly structured, clearly defined social classes • Emperor at top, ruled with mandate from heaven • Upper class of palace court, nobles, government officials, scholars • Second, largest class consisted of peasants, who grew empire’s food • Other Classes • Third class composed of artisans, made useful items, luxury goods • Merchants occupied fourth class, trade not valued by Confucianism • Slaves at bottom of society • Military not an official class, but part of government and offered way to rise in status

  25. Peasant Class Rich and Poor • 90% of nearly 60 million in China at time were peasants • Lived in small villages in simple houses, labored long hours in fields, worked on government projects in winter • High taxes, bad weather could force them into debt • Many had to sell lands, become laborers for wealthy • Social class determined status, but not wealth or power • Merchants usually wealthier than peasants, but were lower in status • Wealthy in Han China lived well • Spacious homes, large estates • Hired numerous laborers Han Society

  26. Summarize What was life like for Chinese peasants during the Han dynasty? Answer(s): worked hard in fields, farmed, raised animals, often sold land to feed families, forced to work on building projects, easily forced into debt, worked for wealthy landowners

  27. Trade and Buddhism • Trade grew in Han period • Agriculture basis of economy • Growth of trade increased prosperity • Led to contact between China, other civilizations • Han products • Ironworkers made iron armor, swords • Artisans made pottery, jade and bronze objects, lacquerware • Production of silk • Most prized Chinese product • Secret method for making silk • Revealing secret punishable by death • Major industry • Raised silkworms, unwound threads of cocoons • Dyed threads, wove into fabric • Fabric beautiful, soft, strong • Clothing costly, in high demand

More Related