Emperor Qin and the Han Dynasty
Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zhèng, 259-210 BCE)
Three huang (3 August Ones) + Five di (5 Sovereigns) = Huangdi (‘Emperor’)
Warring States Period (5th century-221 BCE)
245 BCE: Zheng ascended the throne of Zhao
238 BCE: Zheng launched a coup and secured the throne for himself
221 BCE: Zheng established the single rule of all of China, took new name
Li Si (c. 280-208 BCE)
36 Commanderies
All members of formerly royal houses required to move to Xianyang (capital of Qin)
Book burnings
Standardised weights and measures, the legal system, written language; outlawed Confucianism
Began building the precursor to the Great Wall
Mausoleum
Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)
Gaozu (Liu Bang, 256 or 247 BCE-195 BCE, r. 202-195 BCE)
Empire divided into numerous ‘feudal states’
Wu (156-87 BCE, r. 141-87 BCE)
Territorial expansion, establishment of Confucianism,
Zhang Qian (2nd century BCE)
Wang Mang (45 BCE-23 CE, r. 9-23 CE)