Bellringer: 10/22 and 10/23
Using your notes from last class, name as
many advancements of the Mauryan and
Gupta Empires in classical India as possible.
Talk with your neighbors quietly about your
answers.
Table of Contents Update:
Page 38: Classical China Notes
Page 39: Unit 3 Study Guide
Agenda: 10/22 and 10/23
1. Bellringer
2. Notes: Classical China
3. Study Guide Review (Block 3)
4. Squares Game (Blocks 5 & 8)
Classical China:
Qin, Han Dynasties and
Chinese Philosophies
Ms. Allen
2015-16
Pre-AP WHI
1. The dynastic cycle and the
Mandate of Heaven
1. New family establishes dynasty (new
institutions, economy)
2. Dynasty grows weak
3. Internal rebellions and/or external rebellions
4. New dynasty emerges
Mandate of Heaven
Belief that the gods transfer power to
a certain family meant to establish a
dynasty and rule the region
How is the mandate lost?
Emperors were Sons of Heaven
Timeline of Classical China
Shang: 1766 - 1122 BCE
Zhou: 1029 - 258 BCE
Era of Warring States: 402 BCE - 201 BCE
Qin: 221 - 202 BCE
Han: 202 BCE - 220 CE
Timeline of Classical China
Shang: 1766 - 1122 BCE
Zhou: 1029 - 258 BCE
Era of Warring States: 402 BCE - 201 BCE
Qin: 221 - 202 BCE
Han: 202 BCE - 220 CE
2. Period of Warring States
402 BCE - 201 BCE
Competing interests of landowning
class and ruling class cause political
turmoil
Landowners raise own military - origins of
regional warlords
No political unity - China is
exceptionally weak
Cultural innovations survive
Results in new philosophies
3. Qin Dynasty: Main
Ideas
 Emerges out of Period of Warring States
 Promotes Legalism
 Great Wall
 Founder: Shi Huangdi (“First Emperor”)
 Goals:
Unify and expand China
Restore order
9. Han Dynasty: Main Ideas
One of the golden ages of Chinese
civilization
Promotes tradition (ancestor worship,
respecting elders)
Many advancements made in technology
and innovation
Confucianism over Legalism
Dynasties in China
Qin Dynasty
4. Qin:Geography
4. Qin: Religion
Remains polytheistic
Religion = less important under Qin than Han
Reduces influence of ancestor worship
Qin : Achievements/Culture
Confucianism looked down upon and
followers persecuted
Legalism promoted
Architectural: Initiates construction of Great
Wall; Terracotta Soldiers/Tomb of Shi Huangdi
Uniform written language
Banned books
Way to consolidate power
5. Qin: Political
Emperor had complete control over all aspects
of society
Civil service exams, not social class,
determine your job in the government
Bureaucratic gov’t
Power of nobles reduced
Expansion-minded
Army crush rivals and regional rebellions
Took land in Hong Kong, Vietnam
8. Qin: Economics
Introduced standard weights and measures
Eliminated the very rare practice of slavery
Forced labor necessary for construction projects
Extremely high taxes
Sponsored agricultural projects (irrigation) and
manufacturing of silk
4. Qin: Social
Primogeniture eliminated (practice of having
eldest son inherit all property and land)
Less emphasis placed on social class under
Qin dynasty
Nobles must live in Emperor’s court
Not allowed to live on ancestral, inherited land
“Keep your friends close and your enemies
closer”
Why did the Qin Dynasty
fall?
Shi Huangdi
Extremely paranoid; killed off suspected enemies (nobles,
intellectuals, warlords)
Desire to control EVERYTHING
High taxes, forced labor = people 
Shi Huangdi dies in 210 BCE; followed by 8 years of
peasant revolts to determine successor - winner
establishes Han Dynasty
Dynasties in China
Han Dynasty
4. Han: Geography
10. Han: Religion
Emphasized ancestor worship, traditional
religion
Polytheistic
13. Han: Achievements
Emphasis on filial piety (respecting
one’s elders, family)
Direct trade with Rome
Massive achievements in science,
technology, medicine, and arts
Inventions include paper, plows,
harness/collar, pulleys, wheelbarrow
11. Han: Political
Centralized government
Expanded territory (into Korea, Indochina, parts
of Central Asia)
Bureaucratic structure linked to
Confucianism
More emphasis on social standing than in
Qin dynasty
Civil service exams + social standing = your civil
service position in the government
14. Han: Economics
Trade and agriculture dominated the
Han economy
Using coins made of copper as currency
Trade along the Silk Road
strengthened
Nationalization of salt, iron industries
Growth in national and local
businesses and industries
10. Han: Social
Social stratification exists
Landed gentry (nobles), educated bureaucrats,
skilled workers, farmers, peasants
More social mobility than in India
Poor people = could move up by passing civil
service exam – not easy to do though
Patriarchal society
Brings back primogeniture (everything goes
through the first-born son)
Rise of Chinese Philosophies
Confucianism
Daoism/Taoism
Legalism
Confucianism
Five Basic Relationships in Society
Ruler/Subject
Father/Son
Husband/Wife
Older Brother/Younger Brother
Friend/Friend
Chinese gentleman - education and moral
standards; birth status not important
Bureaucracy - those who help run government
Courteous, precise, generous, just/fair
Confucianism
Founder:
Confucius (K’ung
Fu Tzu)
Lives during Period
of Warring States
Scholar - history,
music, ethics
Main Writing: The
Analects
Promoted by
followers - Mencius
Daoism/Taoism
Founded by Lao Tze (604-531 BCE)
Main Writing: Tao-te-Ching (The Way of Virtue)
Human actions are not important
Search for knowledge and understanding of
nature
Most important part of society is natural order
of things (natural forces, yin/yang)
The Tao (The Way) – guides all things
Legalism
Practical, political reaction to Confucianism
Founder: Han Feizi - 3rd century BCE
Main idea: Powerful and efficient government is key
to restoring order
Laws will end civil war and restore harmony
Rewards to good subjects and punish disobedient
Rulers must control ideas and actions of people
Favored by Shi Huangdi during Qin dyansty