China’s 1st Dynasty
221 BC to 206 BC
 Dynasty – a line of rulers from the same family
 The Qin Dynasty was the 1st dynasty of China.
 The 1st emperor of China was Qin Shihungdi.
 The Qin Dynasty was most known for the unification
of China under an emperor.
Han Dynasty
206 BC to 220 CE
 Civil Service Exam – an exam or test given to individuals seeking
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government jobs (teaching of Confucius)
Bureaucracy – highly organized body of workers with many layers of
authority.
Under the Han dynasty Emperors appointed nobles to positions and
also used the civil service exam to find characteristics.
The Civil Service Exam in the Han dynasty was based on the teaching
of Confucius. Chinese classic literature, & legal/admin. Issues
This system allowed qualified/educated people to get jobs & should be
qualified to do the jobs.
This system could only allow the wealthiest people (aristocrats) to take
the exam. Discriminatory
After the Han dynasty 6 more dynasties rose up under warlords and
there was no central government.
The Han dynasty was known for being the Golden Age of China.
Tang Dynasty
618 CE to 907 CE
 The Tang emperors used the civil service exam similarily to the
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Han emperors, tests were given to select qualified people.
Aristocracy got the highest level jobs, others were hired based on
family relationships.
The civil service jobs favored aristocrats because they could
afford tutors and going to school.
The Tang dynasty fell because of rebellions by the peasant class.
After the Tang dynasty there was a period of over 60 years of
chaos & division
The Tang Dynasty is best known for the economic growth &
development of many inventions & discoveries.
Aristocracy – a ruling class of noble families. Created a class of
“scholar officials”
Song Dynasty
960 CE to 1279 CE
 The Song Dynasty chose magistrates & officials by reforming the civil
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service exam by making it open to more people.
The Tang & Song Dynasties both used the civil service exam to choose
government officials
It is different than the Tang Dynasty because it opened the exam up to
more people and the Song Dynasty created a meritocracy.
Under this system of government those who studied & passed the test
got their jobs (few passed)
The Song dynasty fell because of rebellions & invasions. The Mongols
eventually caused the fall.
After the Song dynasty the Mongols took over leadership & ruling
China.
The Song dynasty is known for economic development & growth with
many inventions & discoveries.
Meritocracy – rule of officials by proven merit.
Yuan Dynasty
1279 CE to 1368 CE
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The Mongols under the leadership of Khan overthrew the Chinese government.
Kublai Khan was the 1st Mongol Emperor.
This new dynasty was the Yuan Dynasty
The Emperor chose his officials from Mongols based on who the trusted.
The Civil Service exam was not used throughout most of the dynasty. People
were appointed.
Native Chinese officials were only given low level jobs such as teachers & clerks
This period was called a time of foreign rule because China was controlled by
foreigners.
Native Chinese were over taxed and had harsh/discriminatory laws.
Rebellions by dissatisfied Chinese born citizens caused the Yuan dynasty to fall.
The Yuan dynasty was replace by the Ming Dynasty.
Yuan dynasty was best known for its foreign rule & building the city of Beijing
Ming Dynasty
1368 CE to 1644 CE
 The Ming dynasty reintroduced the Civil Service exam to
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choose officials.
Mongols appointed officials – Ming reintroduce a
Meritocracy
The Ming dynasty about 300 years.
The Ming dynasty fell because of Rebellions in the north
and raids from pirates on ports.
The Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Quing dynasty
which lasted until 1911
The Ming dynasty was best known for reversing the
unpopular Mongol policy & closing China down from
foreign influence again