History Test 2 Flashcards
The Mandate of Heaven was
the way rulers in China justified when a new dynasty should take over.
Their ruler was chosen to rule by
heaven, and heaven would also overthrow a bad ruler.
The Zhou Dynasty took over the Shang Dynasty using
the concept of the Mandate of Heaven.
The Zhou Dynasty took over the Shang Dynasty using the concept of the Mandate of Heaven. The ruler was supported by a
complex bureaucracy. The kingdom was divided into territories, each governed by officials appointed by the emperor.
Economically, the Zhou Dynasty was characterized by
a feudal system where peasants worked land owned by lords, producing rice and silk, supported by advanced irrigation systems, while trade was controlled by the lords. Socially, the Zhou Dynasty emphasized the family as the core unit, with a societal hierarchy favoring males and the widespread adoption of Confucianism.
The fall of the Zhou Dynasty resulted from
the weakening of feudalism, leading to powerful nobles, civil war, and a decline in traditional values.
To restore societal values, Confucianism advocated for
obedience and strong family relationships, Daoism promoted acceptance of nature’s way, and Legalism supported a strong government with strict laws and punishments.
During the Qin Dynasty, Shi Huangdi ruled with
absolute power and implemented Legalism while rejecting Confucian teachings. He redistributed land from nobles to peasants and reorganized the empire into districts to centralize control.
Economically, the Qin Dynasty saw peasants constructing
roads and the Great Wall of China, the introduction of a coin system, the development of canals, and ongoing farming and trade.
Socially, the Qin Dynasty is noted for its
standardized writing system and the creation of the terra cotta army for Shi Huangdi’s afterlife, alongside a reduction in the importance of the family.
The Han Dynasty re-established
centralized government and utilized civil service exams based on Confucian principles to select officials, diminishing the power of local nobles.
The economic policies of the Han Dynasty included
collecting taxes from peasants, emphasizing agriculture, expanding Silk Road trade, and introducing innovations like paper, the wheelbarrow, and improved iron tools.
Socially, the Han Dynasty reinforced the importance of
family and promoted Confucian teachings in schools. The decline of the Han Dynasty was marked by weak emperors, the rise of local warlords, civil war, and the subsequent spread of Buddhism following its collapse.
What was the Mandate of Heaven?
The Mandate of Heaven was a way rulers in China justified the takeover of a new dynasty, claiming that heaven granted them the right to rule and would overthrow a bad ruler.
How did the Zhou Dynasty justify their rule?
The Zhou Dynasty justified their rule by claiming they had the Mandate of Heaven, which provided divine legitimacy for their takeover from the Shang Dynasty.
