Bellringer
• Which Chinese philosophy* do you think has been used most successfully?
*Confucianism, Daoism, or Legalism
Agenda
1. Chinese Philosophies Review2. Qin and Han Dynasties3. The Dynastic Cycle
Objectives
Students will be able to…33. Summarize the major features of
the Qin and Han Dynasties.
Era of Warring States
• Everyone fights everyone else, and no one is in charge• Responses to the chaos:–Confucius–Daoism–Legalism
Chinese Philosophies
• What would class look like…–Under Confucianism?–Under Daoism?–Under Legalism?
• Any good fortune cookie sayings?
Qin Dynasty (221-207 BCE)
Objective #33
Qin Dynasty• Emperor of the
Qin kingdom conquers his rivals and becomes Shi Huangdi – the First Emperor
Legalism, Implemented
• Implemented strict rules and harsh punishments• Centralized the government under
the emperor• Burned books and killed thinkers and
poets who criticized the government
Qin Achievements
• Built roads to link the empire, expanding trade• Doubled the size of China, united the
warring states, defeated the nomads• Standardized currency, writing, and
measurements
Construction
• Great Wall• Terra Cotta Warriors
Predictions
What happened to the Qin Dynasty?
Qin Collapse
• Government was an autocracy – government in which the ruler has unlimited and arbitrary power• High taxes, harsh punishments,
abusive construction projects• People revolt when Shi Huangdi dies,
dynasty is destroyed
Han Dynasty(206 BCE – 220 CE)
Han Dynasty
• Many tried to become emperor, but Liu Bang conquered the others and founded the Han Dynasty in 202 BCE• Liu Bang and Wudi strengthened the
government, but without punishing the people
Confucianism, Implemented
• Expanded the bureaucracy–Civil service exams and education
• Stable government, lower taxes• Farmers were most important part of
society• Importance of family
Han Achievements
• Technology and commerce–Silk trade–Invent paper, porcelain, harness,
plow, wheelbarrow, watermills, compass
• Assimilation of conquered people into Chinese culture
Predictions
What happened to the Han Dynasty?
Han Fall• Poor grew poorer with each generation–Rich manipulated the poor, so the
poor revolted• Wealthy families tried to be more
powerful than the emperor• Rivals fought for power and the
dynasty fell apart
Predictions
How were the Han and Qin similar?
How were they different?
The Silk Roads
• Silk is a strong, lightweight, attractive fabric–Carried from China, through
deserts and mountains, to India, Persia, Egypt, and Rome
• Cultures and ideas also spread along the Silk Roads – Buddhism
Dynastic Cycle
• The dynastic cycle can be applied to any Chinese dynasty. Explain how the dynastic cycle can be applied to each of the Qin and Han dynasties.