hist 1017, infastructure and empire: Qin, Han, and Roman examples Flashcards
what do empires entail?
Empires often shape the identity of the people who live here.
What types of instituations does an empire need?
- Bureaucracy.Taxes, money, admiration is how the government gets money. Physical administration = Infrastructure.
How did the Qin establish themselves?
One of the 7 states. Overtook the zhou dynasty.
Who was the first emperor
Zheng of Qin. Declared himself.
what was the first empire like?
Qin. Governors. power dependant on the emperor. clerks register common people. all men must serve. built a wall to stop nomads
What did the qin standardize?
Emperor pushed to standardize currency, weights/measures, axel length (same ruts in the road, fits the road), writing script.
Made communication and control easier.
What philosophies did qin favor?
Leagalism. Strict laws and punsihments.
why did li si recommend burning books?
The advisor to the king wanted to put in place preventative measures and conserve the status of the empire.
What was the terracotta army?
6,000 soldiers statues buried with the emperor to protect him in the afterlife
A lot of time and resources. Each soldier looks different
What happened when the Qin fell?
Emperor dies. revolts break out, and a commoner, Han, declares himself emperor. Claims the mandate of heaven
How was the Han a model empire?
kept standardization, but in a morally better way. expansive growing empire, pushing the boundaries.
What is the dynastic cycle?
rise and fall of Chinese dynasties according to the Mandate of Heaven
What bureaucracy did the han empire have?
Tight alliance between the Confucians scholars and the Han empire. Very centralized bureaucracy. Rulers were attentive to administrative control
Empirical University, develop paper
How did the han use confusian ideology?
Foundation was the welfare of the people. Heaven speaks through the people, they can turn away from the rulers. Mandate is lost if the people are unhappy
What socail changed emerged in Han China?
City organization, grid patterns, markets are public areas, wide avenues for horses and carriages. In home entertainment. Exploration of patriarchy. Works written telling people how to behave
How did the Han dynasty expansion affect trade?
Silk road became safer as the empire expanded. 100,000 troups in the standing guard.
who were the Xiongnu?
Nomads at the Han’s borders. They followed herds of horses, had lots of horse strength. Highly disciplined army.
Who was Wang Mang?
Took over Han to help the poor. Institues land reform for the poor. lots of population development. During his rain the river flood so he is seen to lose the mandate of heaven.
What were the fondations of Rome?
Large population. Centered around a sea. Rely on violence to gain control.
What was the beginning expansion of rome like?
took over the italian penisula. People moving down from nothern and central europe, moving to spain. Invaders took over and then left, but left the power open.
WHat was special about the roman military?
Best at killing. recruited soldiers from the people they overtook.
What were the punic wars?
A series of three wars between Rome and Carthage (264-146 B.C.); resulted in the destruction of Carthage and Rome’s dominance over the western Mediterranean.
How was Rome politically organized?
The roman republic. senate, consuls, tribunes of the plebs (protect por), dictators (temporay in times of crisis)
who was julis caesar
roman dictaor, declared himself dicator for like during civil war. killed and stabbed by his haters
who was Augustus?
Named himself roman emperor. no central beuraucracy under him, hired companies to take taxes.
What is an urban empire?
rome. as elites gained power they kicked out poorer people, these people lead revolts and created internal conflict.
what was the municipal charter?
Document that legally creates the town/charter
-Rights promised to the people in the town
-Belonging to the town gets you things
-Constitution. Governs how responsibility will work
why were pompeii and herculaneum so imortant?
Showed us city life. Pets, central planning, two story houses, walled towns, sanitation
What was roman town life like?
bad sewage, aqueducts, food supply from empire, disease and crime, two entertainment sites
what was roman entertainement like?
Theatres and circus
What were ampitheaters? colosseum?
Amphitheaters were circular and most famous was the Colosseum. Colosseum was used for hunts, naval battles, 50,000 seats, shade. Gladiators fought and people loved the gladiators like celebrities
what were Roman roads like?
many roads connecting trade and communication. Flagstones, well drained, paving stones, two lanes of traffic, through mountains. mile markers
