University:
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools
Course:
World History
Academic year:

2014
Views:

478

Pages:

28
Author:

cesaraquinojb1i

Chinese Dynasties Xia to Yuan E.Q. How did China’s imperialistic dynasties transform its government and change its society? Xia 2200 – 1750 BCE (approximate) • • • • Founded by Yu the Great First Chinese Dynasty No written records Only information comes from artifacts of bronze and pottery **Not sure of their existance** Shang (1750 - 1045 BCE) • Developed writing system www.cultural-china.com en.wikipedia.org • Ancestor Worship Zhou (1027 - 250 BCE) • Developed the Mandate of Heaven • City-states within empire run by warlords – warlords fought one another for power and authority • This weakened the power of the Zhou rulers • Became known as the Warring States Period • Confucianism and Daoism introduced Imperial: having supreme authority over an empire Imperialism: a nation’s economic and political influence over other nations Qin (221 - 207 BCE) • Through series of wars unified all of China • Qin Shihuangdi became China’s first emperor Boivieapedia.pbworks.com Transformation of Government • Adopted Legalism: *centralized government *divided China into regions *appointed government officials oversaw the regions -- enforced the rules of the emperor – ensured that workers did their jobs *took power away from nobles (hereditary power) *burned books *executed people who spoke against government Uselesstree.typepad.com Qin Accomplishments • Great Wall *built to protect the northern frontier *connected smaller walls that were already in place *peasants forced to work *people taxed to help pay for it • Standardized (made the same throughout China) – Weights and measures – Currency (coins) – Writing System www.hdwallpaperimages.com Qin Accomplishments • Built a system of roads and irrigation canals to help the army travel more quickly and to help the spread of trade • Terra Cotta Soldiers – In his obsession with his death and afterlife, he had thousands of clay figures made and put in his burial chamber Han (202 BCE - 221 CE) • Dynasty began by a peasant revolt against the Qin. The leader of the revolt, Han Gaozu, became the first Han Emperor. • For 300 of the 400 years that the Han Dynasty ruled, China was peaceful and prosperous. • Qin Influence: • *China remained divided into regions • *Continued the use of government officials to oversee the regions. • Han Changes: • *Developed a civil service exam to find the best qualified people to help with the business of the government. • *Set up a school to train people for government work. *Confucianism replaced Legalism • 5 Relationships supported peace and order and strengthened the position of the Emperor • Under Han rule, the population of China tripled and the empire was extended north, south, and west Han Advancements • Buddhism introduced • Paper invented • Great Wall extended • Silk Road begun **end of isolation 221 - 581 (CE) • Warlords control china - no centralized gov’t • Non-Chinese nomads control much of China • Buddhism becomes popular Confucianism failed Sui (581 - 618 CE) • Completed Grand Canal • High taxes, forced labor • Military failures (couldn’t conquer Korea) • Assassination ends dynasty Tang (618 - 907 CE) • High point of Chinese culture • Rebuilt bureaucracy – Examination system – Confucian education – Limited social mobility • Buddhism supported, then oppressed • Invention of movable print, porcelain, gun powder Tang (618 - 907 CE) • Wu Zetian - Only Empress in Chinese history Decline • Weak emperors, nomadic incursions, economic difficulties • Warlords take control Song (969 - 1279 CE) • Large centralized bureaucracy (NeoConfucian) • Mercantile class grows, increased trade • Magnetic compass, growing sea power • Weak military Yuan (1279 - 1368 CE) • Mongol Khubilai Khan conquers China • Economic stability and prosperity • China more open to trade and travel (Marco Polo) • Ignored Chinese traditions, replaced bureaucrats with non-Chinese • Unsuccessful attacks on Japan, corruption weakens dynasty • Peasant rebellion ends Yuan