Qin and Han dynasty

Qin Dynasty

221 - 206 BC; shortest of China’s dynasties

Followed philosophy of Legalism

Harshly punished those with differing beliefs, especially Confucianists

Dynasty ended 4 years after Qin Shihuangdi’s death

Controlled both Yangtze & Yellow Rivers

Qin Shihuangdi

First Qin emperor

Eliminated Feudal system

Unified & simplified writing system

Built network of roads to move troops

Standardized money throughout China

Had elaborate burial chamber built

Terracotta Army

Accidentally discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974

\~6000 warriors, each with different facial features 

Designed to protect Qin Shihuangdi in the afterlife

\~700,000 workers used on the burial complex

Burial chamber decorated to look like earth

Rivers made of mercury

Burial chamber has not been dug up yet; waiting until it can be done safely

Great Wall

\~400,000 people died during its construction

Originally a series of separate fortifications to keep out tribes to the north.

The wall that exists today is not the one that was built during the Qin Dynasty

Watchtowers would communicate with each other with fire and smoke signals

Used to protect traders along the SIlk Road

Silk Road

Network of trade routes that connected China, India, and the Mediterranean

\~4000 miles

Individual traders rarely travelled the entire route

Camels were the most commonly used animal: could withstand extreme weather and needed minimal water.

The Silk Road allowed religions such as Islam and Buddhism to spread; this is an example of Cultural Diffusion

Han Dynasty

202 BC to 220 AD

Founded by Liu Bang, a former peasant

Developed civil service exams to hire for government jobs Invented rudders for ships, paper, wheelbarrow, acupuncture, seismograph Han astronomers studied Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn Chang Ch’ien was sent westward to explore/set up trade. Returned 13 years later with only 1 member of his party, but his journeys encouraged the development of the Silk Road

Silk Road grew greatly during the Han Dynasty.