The Qin Dynasty

Aim: To what extent was the period of the Qin dynasty successful in uniting

China?

Do Now: Using your class notes, fill out the missing parts of the Dynastic Cycle

HW# 22: Complete Exam Review Sheet

Why is the period of the Qin (Chin) dynastycalled the classical age by historians?

Chinese Classical Age

• 1000 B.C.E. until the 5th century C.E

• Period in history after decline of the river-valley cultures

• Larger political structures -controlled more

territory• Improved on earlier

technologies for agriculture, manufacturing, and city life.

• Elaborate philosophical and religious systems

• Expanded mathematical and scientific knowledge

Describe some of the great accomplishments of the Qin Dynasty.

Qin Accomplishments

• Great Wall of China

• How did Shi Huangdi come to rule China?

What Chinese philosophy did he subscribe to?

Legalism Summary

How did Shi Huangdi centralize power in China?

• Conquered Warring States

• Aid from Legalist advisors

• Strong authoritarian government

Why do you think Shi Huangdi abolished feudalism?

• Local rulers were power hungry also

How did Shi Huangdi organize his empire to ensure allegiance?

• Dissent?

• 36 Military Districts

• Appointed loyal officials

How did Qin policies lead to it’s downfall?

• The Qin emperor set out to build up China into the most glorious nation on Earth. In order to do this he needed labor. Qin used the peasants, forcing them to work under slave conditions, so that he could build roads, bridges, canals, buildings, and his most famous building project of all, the Great Wall of China.

• By 210 B.C. the peasants were tired of being forced to build one project after another for their emperor. The noblemen were upset that their power had been taken away, and the scholars were upset at the emperor who had ordered all the books to be burned.

How does this idea relate to the Mandate of Heaven?

Dynastic Cycle

• In China, a dynasty would remain in power only as long as it was providing good government. When a dynasty went into decline, and began to abuse its power, it was said to lose the Mandate of Heaven, or the favor of the gods. A strong leader would usually emerge to claim the Mandate, and establish a new dynasty. The dynastic cycle would then begin again.

• Create your own Dynastic Cycle using the Qin Dynasty as the

Evaluate quote: Is it better to rule out of fear rather than love? What happens when a ruler becomes hated? How

can you apply this to the Qin Dynasty?

•   “It is best to be both feared and loved, however, if one cannot be both it is better to be feared than loved.”

• “…A wise prince should establish himself on that which is his own control and not that of others; he must endeavor to avoid hatred”

- Niccolo Machiavelli

The Qin Dynasty Summary

• The Qin Dynasty was characterized by centralized state rule, which eliminated local and regional political competitors. This dynasty expanded the boundaries of China to include Hong Kong and also coordinated many large projects, including the construction of the Great Wall of China. This wall, probably the largest in construction project in human history, was built by forced labor, conscripted by the central bureaucracy from among the peasants. Qin Shih Huangdi: A Centralizing Political Ruler

• Qin Shah Huangdi was a ruler of the Qin Dynasty. He instituted a number of innovations in order to build up the power of the central government. To determine the empire’s resources, Shih Huangdi ordered a national census, which provided data for calculations of tax revenues and labor service. The government standardized coinage, weights, and measures through the entire realm. However, Shih Huangdi political style was often abusive and caused him to be despised by many communities, especially peasants.

• He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

- Niccolo Machiavelli •

It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.

- Niccolo Machiavelli