Fracture and Unification: The Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang Dynasties 200 BCE-900 CE Let’s Review… Shang Dynasty – China’s first Dynasty All based around Huang He River (Yellow River) – China’s Sorrow King’s – regional administration to family members Early Writing (Oracle Bones) Government – flood control/irrigation channels Zhou Dynasty- 1122BCE Mandate of Heaven (Legitimize switch of dynastic family) Longest lasting dynasty (600 Years) Transformed Warfare (Archery, Horseback) Decentralized – local rulers run empire (feudal system) The constant competition would undo the Dynasty and lead to the… Era of Warring States- 480BCE-220BCE (Almost two centuries of turmoil) Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) Qin (pron. Chin) = 1 of Warring States of period c. 481- 221 BCE Conquered others, declaring creation of empire 221 BCE Qin Shi Huandi (r. 221-210 BCE) = first emperor Built Great Wall of China Enormous tomb complex Economic power of state: goal = increase productivity Centralization of administration “Bureaucratization” Ideologies of the Empire Confucius (551-479 BCE) Moral order Emphasis on hierarchy, ritual, arts Ideal = the moral leader (Gentleman), shaped by education Legalism Strict laws and enforcement Daoism Mystical philosophy Emphasis on simplicity Legalist effort to suppress Confucianism Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) Brief civil war accompanied the fall of the Qin dynasty Liu Bang established a new dynasty through warfare Social/political hierarchy established by privileged scholars Emperor Wu (156 B.C.E.–29 March, 87 B.C.E.) Centralized Confucianism A basis for promotion in civil service Established as absolute in Tang dynasty How do we know? The Court Historians Military Power “Militarism” - Large-scale expansion of army Men 20-50 were conscripted into military Standing army 300,000-1,000,000 Mandatory one year training & service Could be called back during war Constant battles w/ Xiongnu (Huns) Demanded tribute from enemies Technology included the Crossbow and horses from Mongolia Economics New technology = economic prosperity Paper Compass Breast strap harness for horses Tapping of Natural Gas pockets Iron industry and production of steel Tight government control over business Parthian traders (Intermediaries between Rome/China) c.57 B.C.E. – Silk Reaches Rome Changes in the Han Empire Population shift from north to south Population of South grows by 50% Natural Disasters – Yellow River breaks banks twice Violence (massacres and warfare) Fall of Han Dynasty - 9 C.E. Temporary fall– No succession followed by 20 yrs of turmoil Later Han dynasty (23-220 CE) Not as powerful as former empire Alliances w/ barbarians – Sinicization – absorption by foreign peoples (like Rome) Oppression of peasants Increased Taxation – many move under landlords (European Fedualism) Government has difficulty controlling these landlords. Fall of Han Dynasty - 184 C.E. Fall of Han- New Era in China Yellow Turban (Scarves) Revolt Led by Zhang Jue - Doaist Onset of more revolts afterwards Internal political problems - factions (emperor, bureaucrats, advisors, palace guards, eunuchs, court women) Empire broken up among warlords Feudal life ensues. Society and Culture North-South division upon the fall 1. Variety of ecological reasons 2. Mix with nomadic peoples Several nomadic groups conquered parts of the north Tradition of unity remained Disintegration period: arts flourished Chinese language = unifying force Buddhism appeared in China during 1st CE Reunification Sui (581- 618 C.E.) and Tang dynasty (618 - 907 C.E.) New centralization Grand Canal (1,104 mi) Massive economic undertaking Connected North & South Art/Technology advances Block printing Porcelain Poetry Flourishing of Buddhism 1. Assimilation = major theme 2. Great expansion into central Asia 3. Political control short but influence longstanding Examples: i. Vietnam 1. Periodic revolts against Chinese domination a. Annam = province for 1000 years 2. Adopted various Chinese customs ii. Korea 1. Vassal state 2. Deep cultural influence iii. Japan 1. Cultural influence a. Waves of Korean and Chinese immigration Imperial China 2. Japanese emperor as figurehead – struggle for separation.