The%20Zhou%20and%20the%20Qin%20Dynasties

1
The Zhou and the Qin Dynasties

• In this lesson, students will be able to
  identify characteristics of the Zhou and Qin
  dynasties.
• Students will be able to identify and/or define
  the following terms
• The Mandate of Heaven
• Confucianism
• Daoism
• A Strong Central Government

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The first known dynasty of China was the Shang
dynasty. This dynasty united the people living
around the Huang He and Yangtze river valleys.
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The Zhou Dynasty

• Around 1027 B.C., the Zhou conquered the Shang.
  The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any other
  Chinese dynasty.
• Zhou rulers claimed the right to rule or the
  Mandate of Heaven.

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Mandate of Heaven

• The Mandate of Heaven was the Chinese belief that
  the gods picked the emperor to rule but the gods
  could also remove a bad emperor from power.
• The ruler kept the Mandate of Heaven for as long
  as he ruled effectively.

5
Zhou rulers claimed the Mandate of Heaven or
the right to rule. However, the gods could remove
the rulers right to rule.
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Philosophers during Zhou China

• During the Zhou dynasty, two important Chinese
  philosophies developed.
• Confucianism and Daoism were two significant
  philosophies developed during the Zhou dynasty.
• Both philosophies stressed the importance of
  harmony as Zhou China experienced increased
  warfare.

7
Confucius was an important Chinese philosopher. He
stressed the importance of order to achieve
harmony. Confucius believed that if people
knew and did what they should do, then harmony
would occur.
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The Qin Dynasty

• In 221 B.C., the Qin dynasty emerged.
• The Qin dynasty established a strong central
  government or a strong government that controlled
  all of Chinas local rulers.
• The Qin ruler was the first Chinese ruler to call
  himself emperor.

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Centralization

• Shi Huang-Ti was a harsh but strong ruler.
• He introduced a uniform system of writing.
• He ordered the execution of people who disagreed
  with him.
• The Chinese were forced to obey his rules.

10
During Qin China, the Chinese began building the
Great Wall of China. The Great Wall ofChina was
built to protect China from nomadic invaders.
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Questions for Reflection

• Define the Mandate of Heaven.
• How did the Chinese explain the rise of a new
  dynasty?
• How did Confucianism differ from Daoism?
• Who was Shi Huang-Ti?
• Why did the Chinese build the Great Wall of
  China?
• What are characteristics of a strong central
  government?

12
The Han Dynasty

• In this lesson, students will be able identify
  significant characteristics of the Han dynasty.
• Students will be able to identify and/or define
  the following terms
• The Han Dynasty
• Civil Service Examination
• Silk Road
• Cultural Diffusion

13
The Han Dynasty

• The Han dynasty unified China for over four
  hundred years.

14
Han emperors expanded Chinas borders and
increased trade.
15
The Silk Road was a famous Chinese trading route.
16
Cultural Diffusion

• Cultural diffusion is the exchange of cultural
  ideas and/or objects.
• The Silk Road encouraged cultural diffusion.
• Chinese ideas and objects were introduced to
  other cultures.

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Overland Trade

• During the Han dynasty, merchants established
  overland trade routes to other centers of
  civilization.
• The Silk Road went through Central Asia to the
  Middle East.
• The Silk Road was a famous Chinese trading route.

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Civil Service Examination

• During the Han dynasty, a civil service
  examination based on Confucianism was
  established.

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To work for the government, a Chinese man had to
pass a difficult examination. By establishing a
civil service examination, education
was emphasized.
20
Chinese contact with India led to the
introduction of Buddhism in China.
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Questions for Reflection

• Why is the Han dynasty frequently compared to the
  Roman Empire?
• Why did Han emperors establish a civil service
  examination?
• What philosophy became the official philosophy of
  China during the Han dynasty?
• Why did the Silk Road increase cultural diffusion?