The document discusses several important dynasties in ancient Chinese history. The Qin Dynasty (256-202 BCE) first unified China under Shi Huangdi and established a centralized government, standardizing the written language and currency. The Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) expanded China's territory and saw economic growth through the Silk Road. Buddhism also spread widely during this time. The Sui Dynasty (589-618 CE) briefly reunited China after a period of disunity and accomplished major infrastructure projects like rebuilding the Great Wall and constructing the Grand Canal.

1. Unity and Conformity
Qin Dynasty (256-202 B.C.E)
Han Dynasty (206-220 C.E.)
Buddhism
Sui Dynasty (589-618 C.E.)
Text book pages 86-92

2. Qin Dynasty (256-202 B.C.E)
• Qin prince defeated last Zhou king- 256 B.C.E.
• Prince called himselfShi Huangdi (means 1st
emperor)
• Ended feudal government too much power to
nobles
• Established new government that lasted until 1911

3. Shi Huangdi

4. Qin Dynasty
• Shi Huangdi
• Created strong, central government
• Created 36 districts
• official appointed for each based on loyalty to Shi
Huangdi
• Inspectors toured districts

5. Nobles and Peasants
• Nobles:
• Nobles forced to live in the capital
• Peasants
• land divided among peasants
• Equal land to support family and pay taxes
• Public labour & serve in army (still)

6. Qui Accomplishments
• Shi Huangdi fought wars to expand China
• Improved economy & defenses
• Built more roads
• Standardized system of money, weights, and
measures easier trade
• Standardized writing characters easier
communication
• Constructed the Great Wall linked earlier walls
together project lasted 2000 years

10. Shi Huangdi
• Despite accomplishments, Shi Huangdi was not a
popular emperor
• Legalist
• Nobles resented losing power and land
• Peasants resented public work projects inhumane
conditions
• Disagreed with Confucianism thought it would
weaken the newly established government
• Thousands of classis books burned
• Scholars and families killed

11. Shi Huangdi
• Suspicious man
• Feared for his life
• Moved frequently
• Executed his son
• Ordered servants to search for life-preserving potions
• 210 B.C.E- Shi Huangdi died
• Buried in a great tomb with terra cotta warriors to guard
his body
• After the death, people revolted against Qin
• Generals fought each other, until eventually the Han
Dynasty was founded

17. Han Dynasty (206- 220 C.E)
• Gaozu- 1st Han emperor
• Established capital at Chang’an
• Kept centralized Qin system
• Eased Qin harsh Legalist policies
• Confucian scholars hired as advisors to the emperor
• Some Legalist ideas maintained
• Government opposition not allowed
• Laws remained strict

20. Han Officials
• Officials could win positions through merit, not
birth
• Had to pass difficult exams
• Had to show appreciation for art and literature
• Sima Qian- government official
• Wrote first major Chinese history

21. China Expands
• Han waged military campaigns to enlarge the
empire
• Expanded in the south
• Grew to include Manchuria and Korea
• Expanded far into central Asia
• Expansion into central Asia
• Contact with India, Middle East, Africa, and Europe
• Silk Road constucted
• Trade route linked China with distant lands

23. How do you think the Silk Road
affected China?

24. Chinese Economy
• Silk Road- economy boomed
• Chinese exports: mainly silk increased artisans
and merchants
• Chinese imports: raw materials
• Han emperors continued public works
• Roads, canals, irrigation, flood-control, granaries

25. Agriculture
• Farmers
• Lived in small villages near farms
• Market town close by to sell and buy products
• Still owed taxes to labour government and
participated in public works & army

26. Family
• Several generations lived together
• Elder male (grandfather)- head of family
• Powerful choose children’s spouses and career
path
• Respected without question
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27. Inventions and Art
• Inventions
• Paper
• Breast-strap harnesses
• stirrups
• Rudder
• compass
• Art
• Dishes and sculptures out of bronze, gold, and silver

28. Han- Mandate of Heaven
Lost
• Han lost the Mandate of Heaven
• Later emperors were less capable
• Natural disasters
• some government factions undermined government
work
• Rebellions broke out
• Han Dynasty overthrown
• Replaced by “Period of Chaos (220- 589 C.E.)
• China fragmented into small kingdoms that competed in
trying to form a new dynasty

29. Buddhism
• What is Buddhism?
• Does not include worship of god(s)
• Based on teachings of Siddartha (Indian prince)
• Siddartha
• Gave up wealth & family
• Goal: solve misery of the world
• Received enlightenment became Buddha

31. Buddhism- Beliefs
• Suffering existed when people were too involved
in the physical world
• Focus mind to find higher truths
• monastery
• meditation
• Reincarnations
• Soul reborn until it finds enlightenment
• Enlightenment= seeing the light of truth

34. Buddhism in China
• Spread quickly in China
• Wealthy & influential people
• Appealing faith during political unrest

35. Sui Dynasty (589-618
C.E)
• After Han- numerous small kingdoms
• 589- kingdom official tried to reunite China
defeated other kingdoms
• Wendi (emperor)- founded Sui Dynasty
• Short, but accomplished a lot

38. Sui Dynasty-
Accomplishments
• Reunited China
• Rebuilt sections of the Great Wall
• Revived examination system to elect government
officials
• ***Constructed the Grand Canal able to ship
food from Chang Jiang region north
• Chang’an (capital)- became largest city in the
world

43. Sui Rule
• Cruel
• Tried to do too much, too soon
• Harsh working conditions
• People rebelled Tang Dynasty founded