The Qin and Han Dynasties

The Qin and Han Dynasties

A Social Studies Lesson

Objective

I will be able to examine the differences, similarities, and roles among major beliefs by describing how Confucianism and Buddhism affected the Qin and Han dynasties.

The Qin Emperor

In 221 b.c. the ruler of the Chinese state of Qin took control of China and ended the Zhou dynasty. The new ruler called himself Qin Shihuangdi, which means “the First Qin Emperor.” Qin brought many changes to China.

Qin wanted to unify China. He took control of China’s provinces. Before then, the provinces were ruled by aristocrats. The aristocrats passed control to their sons when they died. Instead, Qin now appointed the governors.

Qin’s rule was harsh. Anyone who disagreed with him was punished or killed. He burned writings that did not agree with him. He appointed censors to make sure government officials did their work.

When Qin died in 210 b.c., aristocrats and farmers revolted. By 206 b.c., the Qin dynasty was over.

Multiple Choice

Who took control of China and ended the Zhou Dynasty?

• Qin

• Han

• Shang

• Zhou

Multiple Choice

Who ruled provinces instead of aristocrats?

• censors

• governors

• aristocrats

• farmers

Multiple Choice

Why did aristocrats and farmers revolt when Qin died?

• They were very upset he had died because they loved him.

• They thought they could be the next ruler.

• They were angry about his harsh rules and wanted their lands back now that he was dead.

• No one was in charge, so there were no rules and people could do anything.

Multiple Select

Select all the things Qin did to unify China.

• simplified writing

• created a single currency

• connected walls across China

• made farmers build a canal

• encouraged people to practice Buddhism

Han Rulers

In 202 b.c. a new dynasty in China called the Han dynasty came to power. The Han dynasty would rule China for over 400 years.

The first strong Han emperor was Han Wudi. Han Wudi ruled from 141 b.c. to 87 b.c. He wanted dedicated and talented people to work in the government. He created schools to prepare students for civil service jobs, or government jobs given to people based on their scores on tests. Civil service tests were a way of choosing educated government workers. The tests for the Chinese civil service were very difficult. Some students who passed got jobs as teachers. Others worked for the government. They won great respect because they were well-educated.

Multiple Select

What two jobs could you get from passing the civil service test?

• teacher

• government job

• farmer

• aristocrat

• emperor

Multiple Choice

Why did Han create schools?

• He believed in education for everyone.

• He thought schools would bring him wealth.

• He really liked teaching.

• He wanted dedicated and talented people to work in government.

Tenant Farmers

During the Han dynasty, many farmers became tenant farmers.

A tenant farmer works land that belongs to someone else. Most

tenant farmers were very poor. As the population grew, the Han

empire took in new areas. Han armies conquered lands to the

north, including Korea, and moved south into Southeast Asia.

They went west as far as India. The Chinese lived peacefully for

nearly 150 years.

Multiple Choice

What is a tenant farmer?

• a farmer who lives on their land

• a farmer who works on land owned by someone else

• a farmer who owes money for land

• a farmer who is a tenant

Art and Technology

During this time, ideas, art, literature, and science blossomed. The ideas of Confucius influenced more people. New paintings and sculptures were created. Writers wrote about current events. They made copies of old works.

New technology helped Chinese farmers produce more food.

● The cast-iron plow was developed. It could break up soil better than wooden plows.

● Waterwheels ground more grain.

● Silk manufacturing improved.

● Paper, a Chinese invention, was used to keep written records.

● The rudder and a new way to move a ship's sails allowed the Chinese to travel farther.

Multiple Select

What new technology helped farmers make more food? Select all that apply.

• plow

• cows

• waterwheels

• acupuncture

Medicine

Doctors discovered that certain foods prevented disease. They learned to treat some illnesses with herbs. Chinese doctors relieved their patients’ pain with acupuncture. Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin, short needles into a patient’s skin at certain points to relieve pain.

Multiple Choice

What is acupuncture?

• a type of skin treatment

• a disease caused by needles

• inserting needles into skin

• puncturing someone with a hole punch

Han Wudi

During the Han period, Chinese traders grew rich by delivering expensive goods to other parts of the world. Both sea and land routes led to an exchange of goods and ideas.

In a.d. 139 Han Wudi sent a general named Zhang Qian to explore areas west of China. Zhang's mission was to find allies to help China fight their enemies. He returned 13 years later. He had not found allies. However, he told about the people and places he had seen.

He told Han Wudi about the strong horses of the West. Han Wudi wanted these horses for his soldiers. To get them, the emperor encouraged trade between China and the West. Chinese merchants traded silk, spices, and other luxury goods. This trade route to the West would later be called the Silk Road.

Multiple Choice

How did Chinese traders grow rich during the Han dynasty?

• they delivered expensive goods to other parts of the world

• they sold lots of food

• they captured other cities and took their wealth

• they made more currency

Multiple Choice

How was the Silk Road developed?

• The emperor paved it and made everyone trade on it.

• Someone laid silk on the road and had people walk on it.

• Chinese merchants used a trade route to sell expensive goods and get horses until it became popular.

• Horses ran through a trade route until they decided to name it.

Multiple Choice

What is an ally?

• a friend

• an enemy

• a Chinese civilization

• that place where you put your garbage cans sometimes

The Silk Road

The Silk Road was a network of trade routes. When it was completed, it stretched from China to the Mediterranean. Travel on the Silk Road was difficult and dangerous. Traders had to cross high mountains and vast deserts. Robbers and thieves also traveled the roads. Over the years, China came into contact with other civilizations. Chinese inventions, such as paper, traveled along the Silk Road to civilizations in the West.

Multiple Select

Why was travel on the Silk Road dangerous? Select all that apply.

• high mountains

• vast deserts

• robbers and thieves

• wild animals

• warring civilizations

Buddhism Reaches China

The Silk Road also served as a way to spread ideas. Buddhism spread from India to China along the Silk Road. At first, Buddhism attracted few followers. However, the long period of unrest after the fall of the Han dynasty helped the spread of Buddhism.

Many of the Han emperors after Han Wudi were weak and dishonest. Greedy aristocrats took over more of the land. They forced many farmers to give up their property. Finally, the people rebelled against the Han rulers. In a.d. 190, rebels destroyed the Han capital city, Luoyang. By a.d. 220, civil war divided China. For the next 400 years, China was divided into many small kingdoms.

The long years of civil war made many Chinese feel unsafe. Many turned to Buddhism. Buddhist ideas appealed to people dealing with fear and worry. By the a.d. 400s, Buddhism had become one of China’s major religions.

Multiple Choice

Why was the Silk Road important?

• It spread trade and ideas.

• It made emperors more powerful.

• It provided resting stops for travelers.

• It helped aristocrats become greedy.

Multiple Choice

How was Buddhism spread?

• Many people felt unsafe after the civil wars and turned to it for peace.

• The emperor forced everyone to follow Buddhism.

• People made statues and shrines.

• People became Buddhist after they got tired of Confucius.

Multiple Select

Why did the Han Dynasty collapse? Pick two.

• Aristocrats forced farmers to give up their land and created unrest.

• The rulers after Han Wudi were weak and dishonest.

• It didn't have enough protection or wealth.

• Buddhism forced everyone into chaos.