Rise and Fall of

Chinese Empires
Chapter 3
Section 4
 STARTER
What makes you want to obey rules?
The Qin Dynasty
Ruler Qin Shihuangdi 245 B.C. (13 years old)
Created a single monetary system and built roads
 The Emperors Army
1974 farmers that were
digging a well discovered an
underground pit near the
burial mound of Qin.
Army of terra-cotta figures.
Archaeologists believed it was
a re-creation of Qins imperial
guard. Found more than six
thousand figures.
Horses, wooden chariots and
seven thousand bronze
weapons.
 The Great Wall
Built by the Qin Emperor
to strengthen existing
protection
From the Gobi people of
the North (nomads)
Required thousands of
workers
Many died and legend has
it they are buried within the
walls.
 Political Changes
Legalism was adopted as the regimes
government in power official ideology.
Those who opposed the policies of the new
regime were punished or executed.
Government was divided
Civil Division
Military Division
Censorate People who are in charge of checking on
Government officials
Country Side
Divided up into 2 levels
Provinces
Counties
Officials were appointed and dismissed by
the Emperor or KILLED!!!
The Fall of the Qin Dynasty
The emperor died and the dynasty was
overthrown.
After the fall there was a period of Civil War.
A new dynasty soon arose (The Han
Dynasty)
Han Dynasty
Followed Confucian ideals, NOT Legalistic!!
Followed in the footsteps of Qin:
3 divisions of Government
Divided the countryside into 2 parts
Did NOT follow Qin:
Officials had to pass tests to govern the land
-Got Jobs based on how GOOD you were not
WHO you were!! Yay!!
Growth of Han
The Empire Expands
Good or Bad??
Empire become stronger, more military
Peasants suffer
Average land plot shrinks NOT ENOUGH LAND for so many
people!
Have to serve in the military
Forced to sell land and work on noble lands
Growth of Technology
PAPER!!! Iron Casting!!!
Education!!!
Fall of the Han Empire
By A. D. 170, wars, intrigues at the court,
and peasant uprisings brought the virtual
collapse of the Han Dynasty.