Qin and the Creation of the First Empire in 221 BCE Flashcards
Qin as part of the Zhou order
*Qin was a polity founded during Western Zhou, at the northwestern frontier;
*When Zhou fled Guanzhong (the area within the Passes) in 771 BCE, Qin established itself there
First empire =
Qin as part of the Zhou order
221 BCE = important year
Qin was a polity founded during Western Zhou, at the NW frontier
When
Since western zhou period, very old state, established at western zhou court = 771 BCE = had to flee
When Zhou fled Guangzhou (the area within the Passes)
Established itself on the branch of the yellow river
Vessels from ZD = Qin very long trqdition = replaced the zhou and started an empire
During spring and autumn period = qin rulers played a powerful, active part role in ther interstate order, its early rules were prone to display
659-621 = reign of duke mu – capital Yong
The role of Qin rulers
*During the Spring and Autumn period, the early Qin rulers played a powerful, active part role in the interstate order; its early rulers were prone to display
–659-621 BCE: Reign of Duke Mu—capital at Yong
–576-537 BCE: Reign of Duke Jing—his very large tomb discovered in 1976 (also at Yong); with 186 sacrificial victims
Neighboors the Rong = not one of the central states = remote = had to engage contact =
576-537 BCE = reign of duke jing – his large tomb at fengxian = lots of cofiins (human sacrifice)
Zhou = reluctant of human sacrifice
Qin = it was a difference
Reforms, starting ca. 500 BCE in the Zhou world
*Territorial state, including the construction of walled borders
*Introduction of administrative districts (xian 縣) under direct control of the ruler’s court (rather than of a subordinate ruler delegated to govern the area)
*Rise of shi class: former (lower nobles) now turned into a professional service class
*Increasing use of written laws
*From aristocratic warfare to large infantry armies
*Common people are mobilized for war—receive registration, surnames, their own plots of land so that they can join the army and pay taxes
*Iron implements and weapons replace earlier bronze ones
*Introduction of money
Reforms = not just took place in QIn, but also all over =
Territorial states (borders)
Rise of shi class =
Increase of laws = bigger communities = need to have rules
Aristocratic warfare = bigger armies = commanders have more distance = change of army and war
Mobilization = wars took place frequently = surnames and titles and land given to them =
Iron implements =
Introduction of money = coins, economies are changing = impose currency and coins to their land
Reforms in the fourth century BCE Qin
Qin comes relatively late to the reforms, but implements them with great success
384-338 BCE: Reforms in Qin spearheaded by the famous Shang Yang (d. 338 BCE); capital of Qin moved to Xianyang
325 BCE: Duke Huiwen becomes King Huiwen
246 BCE: Ying Zheng (the future First Emperor) becomes King of Qin
Reforms in the 4th century BCE Qin
Comes relatively late to the reforms but inplements them with great success
Get people from other lands to understand them
Xianyang =
325 = duke h
246 = first emperor
Qin’s military successes
316 BCE: “Conquest” of Ba and Shu completed (started in 441 BCE)
285 BCE: Qin takes over Song
256: Qin takes over Zhou
246 BCE: Ying Zheng (future First Emperor) becomes King of Qin
230-225: Qin takes over Han, Zhao, and Wei
223 BCE: Qin takes over Chu
222 BCE: Qin takes over Yan
221 BCE: Qin takes over Qi—King of Qin becomes First Emperor
The establishment of empire
*221 BCE; King Ying Zheng assumes title of First Emperor or Qin
*Seeks to pacify conquered territories through a variety of measures
*Registration of conquered people (e.g., bamboo and wooden documents from Liye—illustrate efforts to register former Chu subjects)
*219-210 BCE: Tours of Inspection; seven inscribed stelae lauding Qin’s achievements
*Standardization of scripts, weights, measures,
*Building of roads, walls, an imperial capital
Yong = original capital = moved to xianyang
Irrigation sys still exists today =
Been able to conquered all these states
Reforms
Reforms = during the S and Q period and early warrinf pwrio, Qin seems to have fallen somewhat behind, as the other states engaged in a series of thorough reforms to strengthen themselves
= able to observe other
Rare debate = qin managed to get the upper hand
Introduction what is xian = complicated system with land given to people that became knights = newly conquered =
Early empire = gathered territory that he took control
Extra notes IG??
Women could be householders, could debate with officiers =
No police forces, or security = people should watch one another (groups that would look after each other)
Coins and writing = took qin ones
Wall made of stone = lots of effort and labor ressources = for protection but also
Had to reach territories quickly = roads built to send messengers and soldier and officers
1st emperor = made many trips = mountains because would perform a ritual = put stones there = communication with the gods
Message one = negative, try to
Message two = positive, idealistic vision of daily life
Actual tomb= never excavated before
Part of a larger complex
East cuz enemies from here
Diff ranks =
Remains of pigments = replicas
Died and buried =
Historical text from han dynasty =
