Ancient China

Warring States Period

Three centuries of intense battles among Chinese states for dominance, ending with the Qin state's victory and the establishment of the first unified Chinese state.

Qin ShiHuangdi

First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty who centralized power through monetary reforms, road construction, land redistribution, and taxation.

Terracotta Army

Represented Qin's army accompanying Qin ShiHuangdi into the afterlife, consisting of 6,000 figures.

Xiongnu

Northern nomadic people who posed a threat to the Qin Empire, addressed by the construction of the Great Wall of China.

Legalism

Official ideology of the Qin Dynasty, viewing humans as inherently evil and emphasizing a centralized state divided into Civil, Military, and Censorate divisions.

Han Dynasty

Established by Liu Bang, transitioning from Legalism to Confucianism, focusing on personal ethics and family values.

Civil Service Examination

Introduced in the Han Dynasty to appoint officials based on merit rather than lineage, promoting Confucian influence in government.

Iron Casting

Technological advancement during the Han era, particularly in agriculture and economic prosperity.

Confucianism

Emphasized political and ethical principles, including Duty (sacrificing personal interests for family and community) and Humanity (compassion for others).

Daoism

Advocated following the natural course of events, contrasting with Confucianism's emphasis on human action and improvement.

Legalism

Believed in the inherent evil of humans, advocating for a strong ruler and strict laws for societal order, differing from the human-centric focus of Confucianism and Daoism.