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Ancient ChinaUniting China – Lesson 3
The First Chinese Empire
Qin – small state in Western region (Wei River Valley)
During Warring States, Qin generals conquered other states
army rode horses iron weapons
Zhou fell 256BC – Qin most powerful state
246BC - 13 year old became king of Qin
The First Chinese Empire
By 221BC, Qin controlled all Northern states = first empire
King changed name to Qin Shi Huangdi “First Emperor of China”
Qin empire lasted only15 years
Made changes that had lasting influence
The First Chinese Empire
China – comes from name Qin
Shi Huangdi ruled by fear = LegalismABSOLUTE POWER
Able to create efficient government – but cruel
Laws strictly enforced – punishment severe
Those who opposed were killed.
Something to think about …
What do you need to have in order to maintain absolute power?
Building a Bureaucracy
Legalism needed strong government to control people and economy
Shi Huangdi built strong army and bureaucracy
BUREAUCRACY = large group of appointed officials
Feudal system had to goShi Huangdi wanted his officials to control land and taxes – not
feudal lords
Something to think about …
What do you think happened to the feudal kings?
Building a Bureaucracy
Land taken from nobles – some given to peasants so taxes went directly to government
To prevent nobles turning against him, Shi forced all to move to capital city (Xianyang) so officials could keep an eye on them
Further protection from rebellion – if not in army, you can’t own weapons
Building a Bureaucracy In place of feudal lands, empire
divided into districts
Shi Huangdi picked officials to manage districts
Standardization STANDARDIZATION = making
systems to same for everyone
Shi standardized money, weights and measures and writing
Standardization
To standardize writing, only 2 kinds allowed.
1 for official documents and stone carving
1 for everyday useTo improve trade – standardized coinsAlso – ordered building of canals and roads
All roads had to be same width so carts could travel on them
Standardization Education standardized – Shi Huangdi controlled all books used to teach
Any books that might question Qin ideas were burned
books on Confucianism burned
Although harsh methods, did united people and made
empire easier to control
Building a Great Wall
Defensive wall to keep out invaders from north
Shi Huangdi ordered workers to connect smaller walls that already existed
10 years – workers forced to build wall – not enough to eat, freezing weather – many died
Used available material – stone, birck, dirt
Building a Great Wall
Wall 25 feet high
20 feet wide
Over 3000 miles east – west
Soldiers kept watch from 40’ tall towers – if enemies approaching,used smoke or fire to signal next tower as so forth– continued until reached capital
BUT – invaders still attacked
Emperor’s Clay Army
Shi Huangdi planned great burial place for himself
Ordered tomb built as soon as became king (age 13)
Under construction for over 30 years – not complete when he died
Farmers in 1970 accidentally discovered tomb when drilling a well
Emperor’s Clay Army
Some parts had been robbed in ancient times, but much remained
In tomb army of larger than life-size clay soldiers holding real weapons
Each figure life-like and different than others
So far 7,000 have been uncovered
All face east – direction of kingdoms Shi Huangdi conquered
Emperor’s Clay Army
Also life-size clay horses and wood and bronze war chariots
All figures originally painted bright colors
Site extends over huge area
Something to think about …
What does Shi Huangdi’s tomb reveal about him?
Emperor’s Clay Army
Shi Huangdi buried in tomb at death in 210BC
Son became emperor, but couldn’t keep control
Officials fought for power – people in empire rebelled