THE QIN DYNASTY 221 BCE

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THE QIN DYNASTY 221 BCE 206 BCE

• Administrative Institutions
• Projection of Military Power
• Success through trade and economic integration
• Social Structure
• Labor Systems
• Role of patriarchy
• Reasons for decline

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Setting the Stage The Qin

• Previous rulers Zhou Dynasty
• Zhou ruled from 1027 BCE to 256 BCE.
• Warring States period 475 BCE-221BCE.
• Feudal society the Qin would emerge and unify
  China.

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China under the Qin dynasty, 221-207 B.C.E.
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The First Emperor

• Qin Shihuangdi (r. 221-210 BCE) founds new
  dynasty as First Emperor
• Dynasty ends in 207, but sets dramatic precedent
• Basis of rule centralized bureaucracy
• Massive public works begun
• Precursor to Great Wall

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NEW TECHNIQUES OF IMPERIAL ADMINISTRTION
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In order to organize their subjects, rulers
created administrative institutions.

• Centralized Government
• Abolishes old feudal states and divides China
  into 36 military districts, each ruled by
  appointed officials.
• Use of inspectors (spies) to keep local officials
  in check.
• Shi Huangdi forces all noble families to live
  in the capital in Xianyang.
• Nobles land was divided up amongst the peasants
  who had to pay very high taxes.

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LEGALISM

• Shi Huangdi adopts Legalism as his primary ruling
  philospohy.
• Read Memorandum on the Burning of Books p.80 in
  the Duiker book.
• Discuss the questions with your group members.

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Imperial governments projected military power
over larger areas.

• Example The Great Wall
• Needed to prevent raids from nomads to the North.
• What did the Great Wall say to outsiders?
• Also builds numerous roads and canals to help
  improve transportation.

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The Great Wall of China
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Promotion of trade and economic integration help
promote the success of empires.

• Standardized
• Laws
• Currencies
• Weights and measures
• Script
• Previously single language written in distinct
  scripts
• Building of roads, bridges
• Government Monopolies mining, wine making, and
  salt distribution.
• Private commerce heavily taxed.

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Hierarchical social structures

• The Emperor
• Landlords (ruled over the 36 military districts)
• Merchants
• Peasants

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Labor Systems were used to for food production,
public works projects, and to reward the elites.

• Forced labor used for most projects such as the
  Great Wall and Terra Cotta soldiers. Peasants
  were required to serve months at a time.
• While peasants did receive land from the new
  emperor, they were taxed heavily.

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TERRA COTTA SOLDIERS
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Patriarchal Rule

• Family roles similar to those found in other
  early civilizations.
• Emphasis on unity and the power of the husband
  and father.
• Women had clearly defined roles. Generally were
  subordinate.
• Women could and did exercise influence behind the
  scenes.

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REASONS FOR THE DECLINE OF THE QIN

• Attacks on intellectuals.
• Heavy tax burden placed on the peasants to fund
  military conquests and public projects.
• Brutal rule
• EXAMPLES 476 scholars buried alive, book
  burnings.