1. China's First Emperor and
the Terra Cotta Soldiers
Early China, ca. 2000–259 B.C.E.
A. Geography and Resources
1. China is divided into two major geographical regions: the steppe, desert, and high
plateau west and northwest; and the eastern zone, more suitable for settled agriculture.
2. The eastern zone is subdivided into two areas:
North -- Yellow River Valley
South -- Yangzi Valley
3. Agricultural workload in the eastern region
B. The Shang Period, ca. 1750–1027 B.C.E.
1. Pre-Shang China -- Neolithic communities
2. Xia dynasty?
3. Shang dynasty and Yellow River Valley
4. Shang military campaigns
5. Chinese writing system
Oracle bones used in divination
C. The Zhou period, 1027–221 B.C.E.
1. Zhou defeated the Shang in the eleventh century B.C.E.
2. Concept of the “Mandate of Heaven”
3. Western Zhou period (eleventh–ninth centuries B.C.E.)
4. Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period (771–481 B.C.E.)
Warring States Period (480–221 B.C.E.)
5. Technological innovations of the Eastern Zhou
D. Hundred Schools of Thought
1. Confucius (551-479 B.C.E.) and Confucianism
Relationships: Father-Son; Emperor-Subject; Husband-Wife; Older Brother-Younger
Brother; Friend-Friend
2. Analects
3. Daoism: The Way
Laozi (?)
Zhuangzi (369-286 B.C.E.)
4. Legalism: Emphasizing law
Qin -- Lord Shang
Han Feizi

2. Rise of Qin and Dynasty
E. Qin and King Zheng (259-210 B.C.E.)
1. Death of father in 247 B.C.E.
2. Taking throne and ministers
Lu Buwei
Li Si, Legalism over Confucianism
3. Conquering China and creating Qin Dynasty
4. Becoming Shi Huangdi (r. 221-210 B.C.E.) and emperor
5. Assessment of first emperor
Accomplishments
Standardization of written language
Standardization in other areas:
weights, measures, coinage and axle lengths of carts
Built many roads and some canals
Great Wall
Er Fang palace at Xianyang
Emperor's tomb and terra cotta soldiers
Negatives
Movement of people and forced labor
Spying
Physical punishment
No weapons
Suppressing Confucianism
Search for immortality
F. Overthrow of Qin regime and Legacy
1. Death of Shi Huangdi
2. Son
3. Han (206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.)
Liu Bang (Emperor Gao, r. 202-195 B.C.E.)
4. Sima Qian
5. Later Dynasties
G. Tomb and Terra Cotta Soldiers
1. Discovery, 1974 - Yang brothers
2. Zhao Kangmin
3. Reaction of Beijing
4. Archaeologists and Restoring the pits, soldiers and chariots
5. What is in the Tomb?
6. Why create and bury the soldiers?

3. 7. How were the soldiers created?
8. Creating a museum