Chap 8.1 Flashcards
When did Zhou (Djoo) dynasty begin to decline?
Zhou (Djoo) dynasty began to decline around 400 BC
What contributed to decline of Zhou dynastry?
Power shifted to local nobles
Several small states battled for land, power by 300s
What dynasty next rose to power?
State of Qin rose to power
How did Qin rise to power?
Where did the Qin come from?
–Located on China’s western frontier
–Conquered other states in military campaigns
–Last rival state fell, 221 BC
What did the Qin do to China?
Qin unified Chinese empire
Who was the first emperor of China?
•First ruler of new empire took title Shi Huangdi (Sheewangdee), “first emperor”
What did Shi Huangdi establish?
What was its teaching?
- Founded school of Legalism
- Taught that powerful, efficient government key to maintaining order
What did Legalists reject?
Rejection of Confucianism
•Legalists rejected philosophy developed during Zhou dynasty
How were Legalists different from Confucianism?
- Confucianists thought rulers should be virtuous, lead by example
- Legalists said rulers should be strong, govern through force
- Supported strict laws, stressed harsh punishment for even minor crimes
What kind of government did Qin believe in?
Strong, Centralized Government
Had to Maintain Order
How did Shi Huangdi establish a strong centralized government?
Describe 4 things
- Shi Huangdi weakened rival nobles by taking land
- Forced nobles to move to capital so he could watch them
- Seized all private arms to prevent rebellions
- Divided China into 36 districts, appointed loyalists to govern them
How did Shi Huangdi maintain order?
- Shi Huangdi suppressed all criticism of his rule
- Ordered burning of books which conflicted with Legalist thinking
- Only books on practical subjects like agriculture, medicine spared
- Confucian scholars who discussed banned books, criticized Qin government tortured, killed
What were the QIN reforms?
List 3 things
- Unified, strengthened China
- Standardized laws, writings, monetary systems, weights and measures
- Also standardized size of carts so they could fit China’s roads
What were the building projects?
List 3 major projects
- Improved irrigation system and increased farm production
- Expanded roads and canals to link capital to other parts of empire
- Improved transportation, increased trade, heavy taxes
What did QIN do to protect China?
What did it build?
•Worked to protect empire from outside threats
•Great Wall of China