Chronolgy of Ancient China Flashcards
When was the Warring states period and when did it end?
c.475–221 BCE
What happenned in the Warring States period? (7)
- During the second half of the Zhou dynasty, the nobles tried to gain power for themselves.
- At the beginning of this period, about 150 states were fighting one another.
- By the end of the Warring States period, only seven large states remained
- Chu, Han, Qi, Qin, Wei, Yan and Zhao. Each had its own king and army.
- The leader of the state of Qin
( chin ) — which was known for its ruthless fighting techniques and for beheading its enemies — emerged
as the strongest. - The Qin leader Ying Zheng finally overthrew the Zhou dynasty.
- This 39-year-old Qin leader renamed himself Qin Shi Huangdi ( chin shur hwung-dee ), meaning ‘supreme emperor of the first generation’.
When did the Qin start and finish?
c.221–206 BCE
What happenned in the Qin? (4)
- Qin Shi Huangdi ruled over China making the Great Wall and established one central goverment.
- By the time of his death, Qin Shi Huangdi’s power had come under threat from people both within and outside his court.
- High taxes and food shortages caused rebellion against the two emperors who followed.
- After eight years of war, a peasant named Liu Pang (pronounced le-you pang ) defeated the armies of Qin Shi
Huangdi’s successors.
When did the Han start and finish?
c. 206 BCE – c.220 CE
What happenned in the Han? (6)
- Gaozu (Liu Pang), became founder of the Han dynasty.
- He promised to rule China differently.
- He gained support by promising to get rid of
many of the unpopular aspects of Qin rule. - He disbanded his armies and excused men with young families
from military service. - He also reduced taxes, made laws easier to understand and encouraged ex-soldiers to become farmers.
- He continued the Qin system of legalismin a more relaxed form.
When did Han Wudi come into power and when did he stop?
c.157–87 BCE
What happenned with Han Wudi? (7)
- Han Wudi, the seventh Han emperor, ruled China for 54 years.
- He reformed its government and its empire so that it became even larger than that of the Roman Empire in the west.
- Han Wudi based his administration on the teachings of the philosopher Confucius. 4. He made sure that the officials in charge of day-to-day decision making were men chosen for their ability and not for their family’s importance and connections.
- He welcomed the advice of China’s scholars, especially their
suggestion of establishing a university. - Han Wudi’s determination to expand China’s territory ultimately placed a huge tax burden on his people. (NEXT QUESTION)
- These measures, as well as his harsh treatment of anyone who opposed him, caused people to turn against Han Wudi. The power of the Han dynasty began to weaken.
What did Han Wudi tax poeple with? (3)
He:
* taxed them by forcing men (including prisoners) to come and fight with his army
* taxed other important resources such as salt, which was essential to the peasants’ diet, and iron, which was
the main material used to make people’s work tools
* used spies to report on anyone who tried to avoid paying taxes.
Who were the Red Eyebrows?
- About halfway through the rule of the Han dynasty, Wang Mang, a government official, took power briefly.
- He promised to take land from the wealthy and give it to the peasants.
- However, he failed to gain support from other government officials, who came from the wealthy landowning families that Wang Mang didn’t like.
- China’s peasants blamed him for the famine that hit China at this time.
- They created an army called the Red Eyebrows that fought and eventually killed Wang Mang.
How did Historians use this break in Han rule?
Historians use this break in Han rule to divide it into the periods of Early Han rule and of
Later Han rule, when the Han moved their capital to the eastern city of Luoyang.
When did Wang Mang start and end in power?
9-23 CE
What were the Eunchs and Yellow Turbans? (7)
- The Han dynasty regained power, although poor decisions weakened its rule.
- Family members often took on important roles for which they lacked the skills to carry out effectively.
- Eunuchs (officials who had been castrated) increased their influence by organising more of the tasks that Han family members failed to perform.
- War between the eunuchs and palace officials was further evidence of the weakness of the Han.
- Problems among the peasantry weakened the government even further.
- The rebellion of a group known as the Yellow Turbans again showed that the Han dynasty could not maintain its control over China.
- The Han dynasty finally lost power after a rebellion led by army leaders.
When was the war between the palace officials and the Eunuchs?
168–170 CE
When did the rebellion of Yellow turbans happen?
184–204 CE
