The Political Development of Imperial China

The Government of Imperial China

In 221 B.C.E., Prince Zheng (JUNG), the head of the state of Qin (CHIN), became the first Chinese ruler to claim the title of emperor,  adopting the name Qin Shi Huangdi (chin SHEE hwahng-dee), which means “First Emperor of Qin. ” From that time on, China usually had an  imperial  form of government headed by an emperor or, sometimes, an empress.

emperor: the political leader of a territory containing several countries or groups of people

imperial: belonging or related to an emperor

China's Imperial Dynasties

 Chinese emperors named a relative, often a son, to become emperor after their deaths. In this way, they established a dynasty, or line of rulers from the same family.

From ancient times, Chinese rulers based their right to govern on the Mandate of Heaven, the idea that Heaven had chosen a particular dynasty to rule. The Chinese believed that Heaven supported the dynasty throughout the emperor's reign, as long as the emperor ruled well. Natural disasters such as floods, famines, plagues, and earthquakes were interpreted as signs that Heaven was displeased. If an emperor ruled poorly and lost the Mandate of Heaven, the people could overthrow him.

dynasty: a line of rulers descended from one family

Multiple Choice

belonging or related to an emperor

• Dynasty

• imperial

• emperor

Multiple Choice

a line of rulers descended from one family

• Dynasty

• imperial

• emperor

Multiple Choice

the political leader of a territory containing several countries or groups of people

• Dynasty

• imperial

• emperor

This table lists the imperial dynasties that ruled China between 221 B.C.E. and 1644 C.E. Each of these dynasties brought about change for the people of medieval China.

China's Breakup and Reunification

 The Han dynasty held power in ancient China for more than 400 years and ushered in a golden age of expansion and prosperity. In 220 C.E., however, the Han rulers lost their grip on power, resulting in a long period of disunity and conflict. This period ended when the Sui and Tang dynasties reunified China.

What happened to bring about the end of Han rule? Like earlier emperors, the Han governed China with the help of a large bureaucracy of government officials. As long as the bureaucracy was skilled, honest, and hardworking, China prospered. By 220, however, corrupt, or dishonest, relatives and servants of the emperor had seized control of the government.

bureaucracy: a highly complex body of workers with many levels of authority

The result was disastrous.  High taxes plunged many families into poverty, and workers were forced to labor for long periods of time on public projects.  Additionally, bandits attacked farmers in the countryside.  All of this turmoil led  warlords  to oppose the emperor and fight against one another, causing the government to become weak and unable to protect farmers.

warlords: a military leader operating outside the control of the government

Small farmers suffered because they were required to pay taxes and give half of everything they produced to their landlords. As they plunged into debt, they were forced to give up their own land to large landowners and work for them, instead.

Finally, the farmers rebelled because they believed that the Han dynasty had lost the Mandate of Heaven. No new dynasty took over from the Han, so China broke apart into separate kingdoms, just as Europe did after the fall of Rome. Nomadic invaders ruled the north, while several short-lived dynasties ruled the south.

In 589, the northern state of Sui (SWAY) conquered the south and reunified China. The Sui dynasty created a new central government and ruled for 29 years, but by 617, heavy taxes led to unrest and a struggle for power.

In 618, a general named Li Yuan declared himself emperor and established the Tang dynasty. Tang rulers built on the accomplishments of the Sui dynasty, strengthened the central government, and increased Tang influence over outlying areas.

Under the Tang, a unified China enjoyed a period of wealth and power that lasted nearly 300 years. Let's now examine how Tang rulers approached problems of government.

Multiple Choice

a highly complex body of workers with many levels of authority

• warlords

• bureaucracy

Multiple Choice

a military leader operating outside the control of the government

• warlords

• bureaucracy

Multiple Choice

The________ were the first to unite China under a single emperor.

• imperial

• mandate of heaven

• dynasty

• Qin

Multiple Choice

A government that has an emperor is ________ in nature.

• imperial

• mandate of heaven

• dynasty

• Qin

Multiple Choice

Chinese emperors often named their sons as successors in order to establish a _________

.

• imperial

• mandate of heaven

• dynasty

• Qin

Multiple Choice

The Han dynasty fell when citizens thought it had lost the __________________________.

• imperial

• mandate of heaven

• dynasty

• Qin