The Dynasties of Classical China: The Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties
In Classical china, a dynasty was a family of kings who had political control of the
area. The dynasties practiced a feudal system in which the central king or
emperor would give other family members or loyal supporters land in exchange
for military troops and tax revenue. However, the central government became
vulnerable if any of the supporters became disloyal and decided to revolt. There
were three main dynasties that held control in Classical China; they were the
Zhou Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty.
The Zhou (Joe) Dynasty (from 1029 to 258 B.C.E.)
 The Zhou family was originally a vassal family that belonged to Shang,
China. The family overthrew the Shang and established the second
dynasty in China.
 The Zhou Dynasty’s rule was long in length but it really only thrived until
700 B.C.E. After 700, the Zhou began a steady decline in political control
and power.
 A strong political infrastructure was never really created within the Zhou.
Control was mostly gained through alliances with other regional princes
and noble families of bordering regions.
 The Zhou dynasty relied mostly on agriculture as a source of food and
economic stability.
 While the Zhou never had an overwhelmingly strong centralized
government, they did manage to increase the focus on the need for a
strong central government.
 While in power, the Zhou asserted the Mandate of Heaven, which is the
claim that a heavenly power is the source of the leader’s political power.
The emperors were known as “Sons of Heaven.”
 Cultural and linguistic unity was promoted and certain primal religions
were discouraged. The practice of human sacrifice was outlawed.
 Confucianism and Daoism were becoming popular belief systems of the
time. Both encouraged cultural innovation and individualism, which was a
factor to the downfall of the Zhou.
 The time between 402 and 201 B.C.E. was known as the Era of the
Warring Sates. During this time independent regional armies ultimately
reduced the Zhou Dynasty to nothing.
 At this point the Qin took over.
The Qin (Chin) Dynasty (from 221 to 202 B.C.E.)
 A regional ruler of the Zhou Dynasty named Qin Shi Huangdi took over as
the sole ruler of China. He was known as a brutal but effective leader.
 BUREAUCRACY
 Qin Shi Huangdi instituted a new organization of provinces ruled by
leaders that Qin Shi personally appointed. He was careful in deciding who
the leaders of these regions would be; weary of the disloyalty of the
Zhou’s regional officials.
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Under Qin Shi, powerful central armies would easily thwart any rebellion
by regional armies.
During the Qin Dynasty, there was an increased idea of centralization.
o The Great Wall was built under Qin Shi, by forced labor, as
protection from possible invaders.
o Qin Shi ordered a national census which helped decide necessary
tax revenue and labor services.
o Coinage, the weight of currency, and even road dimensions
became standard.
o The written language became standard completing the process of a
single basic language.
o Many irrigation projects, agricultural efforts, and manufacturing
were promoted to increase the strength of the central government.
o Books were burned to discourage individualized thinking and
protect Qin Shi Huangdi’s control.
The Qin Dynasty was very progressive but short lived. When Qin Shi died,
peasant revolts broke out and in 202 B.C.E., one of the peasant leaders
established new rule.
This is when the Han Dynasty began.
The Han Dynasty (from 202 B.C.E. to 220 C.E.)
 The Han wanted to maintain strong central ideals while reducing the brutal
repression of the Qin.
 The Han expanded Chinese territory into Korea, Indochina, and Central
Asia. This expansion brought China into contact with India and the
Parthian Empire which was in the Middle East. This contact allowed for
trade with the Roman Empire.
 The Han’s ruler Wu Ti promoted his strong beliefs in the power of peace.
Wu Ti strived for both internal and external peace. This peace allowed
great success to come to China.
 The Chinese bureaucracy improved and the government experienced a
connection to the practice of Confucianism. Confucianism was both
promoted and supported by Wu Ti.
 The central control of the Han eventually weakened and invasions from
peoples in central Asia, lead by the Huns, eventually overtook the dynasty
entirely.
 At this point China fell into chaos and confusion.