The origins of Imperial China, 21 BCE

The origins of Imperial China, 21 BCE - 220 CE Flashcards

254834778	Qin	A people and state in the Wei Valley of eastern China that conquered rival states and created the first (short-lived) Chinese empire (221-206 B.C.E.). The Qin ruler, Shi Huangdi, standardized many features of Chinese society and ruthlessly marshaled subjects (at great cost in human lives and labor) for military and construction projects, engendering hostility that led to the fall of his dynasty shortly after his death. The Qin framework was largely taken over by the succeeding Han Empire.	0
254834779	Agricultural Production	Primary source of the weath and taxes that supported the institutions of imperial China. Main tax was a percentage of the annual yield of the fields and supported the main government. Transporting crops to the north became imporant and the first steps toward construction of canals to join the Yangzi and Yellow rivers began (to move food).	1
254834780	Human Labor	a fundamental commodity. The government did a census of inhabitants periodically to find out how many people there were. People were required to donate one month of labor per year to work on things like palaces, temples, fortifications, roads, goods transportation, canals and they also had to do 2 years of military service.	2
254834781	Expansion of the Han People	As the poplulation grew, they needed more land so they moved at the expense of other ethnic groups. Sometimes they were invited into other kingdoms so that their skills and technology knowledge (agriculture) could be exploited (ripped off). The Han preferred to move into areas that were good for the kind of agriculture they already knew how to do in the eastern river valleys. When they expanded they brought their social organization values language and other elemtnes of their culture. They believed that their ancestors had something to do with their present lives so they consulted with the ancestors.	3
254834782	Confucius	Chinese philosopher, he was the most influential teacher in Chinese history. His teachings, called Confucianism, focused on morality, family, society, and government. he maintained that people could be guided to the right path through education, imitation of proper role models and self-improvement.	4
254834783	Shi Huangdi	Founder of the short-lived Qin dynasty and creator of the Chinese Empire (r. 221-210 B.C.E.). He is remembered for his ruthless conquests of rival states and standardization. (see Word doc)	5
254834784	Standardization	Unified Chinese civilization. Qin introduced one system of weights, measures, money, written language, and laws. Nobody argued with him.	6
254834785	Han Dynasty	(202 BC - 220 AD) dynasty started by Lui Bang (he outlasted his rivals); a great and long-lasting rule, it discarded the harsh policies of the Qin dynasty and adopted Confucian principles; Han rulers chose officials who passed the civil service exams rather than birth; it was a time of prosperity.	7
254834786	Emperor Wu	r.140 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu luanched a period of military expansion south into Fujian, Guangdong and north Vietnam, Manchuria and North Korea. Also sent armies into inner Mongolia and Xinjiang to secure the Silk Road. Controlling the newly aquired territories was expensive so his successors didnt' do anymore expanding.	8
254834787	Chang'an	city in the Wei Valley in eastern China. The capital of the Qin and early Han empires (202 BCE-8 CE). Its main features were imitated in the cities and towns that sprang up throughout the Han empire because it was well organized. Protected by a ring of hills. It had a wall of pounded earth and brick 15 mi. in circumference. In 2 CE, the population was 246,000. There was a university located on its outskirts.	9
254834788	Gentry	In China, the class of prosperous families, next in wealth below the rural aristocrats, from which the emperors drew their administrative personnel. They did this to weaken the rural aristocrats and to exclude them from political posts.	10
254918816	Iron Metallurgy	The technology of iron metallurgy spread to China. The production of iron spread rapidly. Iron was a much cheaper and more abundant source than bronze. The Romans would heat up the metal and bang it into a shape. The Chinese figured out how to liquefy (melt) the iron and pour it into molds. The cast (molded) tools and weapons were harder and more durable because of a higher carbon content.	11
254918817	Long-Distance Trade	The growth of local and regional trade networks helped develop long-distance commerce. China's most important export was silk.	12
254918818	Xiongnu	a great confederacy of Turkic peoples that were a major external threat to Chinese civilization in the Han period. The Chinese kept them in check by keeping them contained. They would have special cavalry that could ride up into the hills to check on them. They also had groups of soldier-farmers who served as a buffer.	13
254918819	Tributary System	Nomad rulers accepted Chinese supremacy and sent in payments of tribute for which they were rewarded with marriages to Chines princesses, dazzling receptions at court and gifts from the Han emperor that exceeded the value of the tribute.	14
254918820	Reasons for Han Decline	factional intrigues (a small group plotting) within the ruling clan, official corruption and inefficiency, uprisings of dsperate and hungry peasants, unsuccessful reform movements, attacks by nomadic groups and ambitions of rurual warlords.	15