The Zhou and the Qin
Dynasties
In this lesson, students will be able to
identify characteristics of the Zhou and Qin
dynasties.
Students will be able to identify and/or
define the following terms:
The Mandate of Heaven
Confucianism
Daoism
A Strong Central Government
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The first known dynasty of China was the
Shang dynasty. This dynasty united the
people living around the Huang He and
Yangtze river valleys.
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The Zhou Dynasty
• Around 1027 B.C., the Zhou conquered
the Shang.
• The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any
other Chinese dynasty. It lasted from
1027 B.C. to 221 B.C.
• Zhou rulers claimed the right to rule or the
Mandate of Heaven.
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The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any
other Chinese dynasty.
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Mandate of Heaven
• The Mandate of Heaven was the Chinese
belief that the gods picked the emperor to
rule but the gods could also remove a bad
emperor from power.
• The Mandate of Heaven can be viewed as
the right to rule.
• The ruler kept the Mandate of Heaven for
as long as he ruled effectively.
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Zhou rulers
claimed
the
Mandate of
Heaven or the
right to rule.
However, the
gods could
remove
the ruler’s
right to rule.
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Philosophers during Zhou China
• During the Zhou dynasty, two important
Chinese philosophies developed.
• Confucianism and Daoism were two
significant philosophies developed during
the Zhou dynasty.
• Both philosophies stressed the importance
of harmony as Zhou China experienced
increased warfare.
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Confucius was an
important Chinese
philosopher.
He stressed the
importance of order
to achieve harmony.
Confucius believed
that if people knew
and did what they
should do, then
harmony would
occur.
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It is believed that
the founder of
Daoism or Taoism
was Lao Tzu.
Daoism was a
philosophy that
stressed the
importance of
nature. By living
naturally, harmony
could be achieved.
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The Qin Dynasty
• In 221 B.C., the Qin dynasty emerged.
• The Qin dynasty established a strong
central government or a strong
government that controlled all of China’s
local rulers.
• The Qin ruler was the first Chinese ruler to
call himself emperor.
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Shi Huang-Ti was the first Chinese
emperor. He united China under one
ruler.
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Centralization
• Shi Huang-Ti was a harsh but strong ruler.
• He introduced a uniform system of writing.
• He ordered the execution of people who
disagreed with him.
• The Chinese were forced to obey his
rules.
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During Qin China,
the Chinese began
building the Great
Wall of China.
The Great Wall of
China was built to
protect China from
nomadic invaders.
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Questions for Reflection:
• Define the Mandate of Heaven.
• How did the Chinese explain the rise of a
new dynasty?
• How did Confucianism differ from Daoism?
• Who was Shi Huang-Ti?
• Why did the Chinese build the Great Wall
of China?
• What are characteristics of a strong
central government?
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