ClassicalChina


 * Assignment 1.1** //Terms and Definitions on __Classical China__//


 * Shi Huangdi    ||    Qin Shi Huangdi was the first emperor in the Qin dynasty, who took head of China's activites after the Era of Warring States. He sucessfully integrated legalism within the country, and with strong authoratative rule and harsh laws against crime, he transitioned China into a new state of prosperity. Although he was distinctly cruel, Huangdi expanded China's boundaries, established the Great Wall of China, etc. (See Leadership Chart).    ||
 * Qin    ||    Generally a legalistic dynasty, that ended the strife that occurred throughout the Era of Warring States period. The Qin dynasty though lasted only for a short period of time, due to the unpopular control presented by it's emperor, Shi Huangdi. Thee Qin dynasty emphasized a strong governmental structure in which gave birth to centralism and technological innovations. A lot of the time, the Qin dynasty brought prosperity throughout the nation, because for one it established the Great wall, expanded territory … see leadship chart. This era can be definied as a political stepping stone to the development of stablity and political alterations that benifitted China in the end.    ||
 * Han    ||    Peasentry revolts during the Qin dynasty led to the Qin falling and the rise of the Han Dynasty, who changed the political atmosphere and changed it successively to Confucianism. The Han was a longer lasting Dynasty. For 400 years of power, the Han took it for themselves to expand towards southern Asian countries and expand their influence over trade and regional control. They also promoted a stronger bureaucratic assembly and scholarship within the area.    ||
 * Zhou    ||    Dynasty from 1122 to 256 B.C.E., gaining power after the Shang dynasty. This dynasty controlled vassals in 8th century B.C.E., leading to a long period of period of political and social turmoil throughout China. The Zhou ruled through alliances with regional princes and noble families. Alliance systems used by the Zhou were standard in agricultural kingdoms. Rulers lacked means to control their territories directly and so gave large regional estates to members of their family and other supports, hoping to gain loyalty. Their supporters provided central government with troops and tax revenues. The Zhou also encouraged its inhabitants to migrate to the Yangtze River valley, where the Middle Kingdom was ideal for agriculture.    ||
 * Great Wall    ||    A product of the Qin dynasty, the great wall was one of the negative projections of labor that chinese mankind had to endure, causing great hate for the qin dynastic king, but its protection from later invasions stabilized the country itself, leading to less conquering and competing nature of civilizations, which in turn allowed for the cultural and economic atmosphere to develop rather than change.    ||
 * Daoism    ||    Began by Laozi in 5th century B.C.E., the Daoist philosophy revolves around the values of nature's harmony and mystery. Daoism emerged during the waning centuries of the Zhou dynasty. The philosophy promoted its own ethics, and believed that harmony with nature best resulted through humility and frugal living. Political activity and learning were irrelevant to a good life and general conditions in the world were of little importance. Daoism often clashed with Confucianism, which denounced its emphasis on mysteries and magic.    ||
 * Confucianism    ||    The philosophy of Confucius, it emphasized personal virtue, with a reverence for tradition, a solid political life would result naturally. The philosophy also encouraged moderation of behavior, esp. as a ruler and ruled. One must also have filial piety and respect parents. Confucian philosophies were captured in the Analects, which emphasized political virtue and social order. One must also act accordingly to their class and treat others with virtue; system of ethics.    ||
 * Legalism    ||    Emerged during the Qin and Han dynasties, Legalists prided themselves on their pragmatism. Legalists believed that humans were evil by nature and needed restraint and discipline. Legalist emphasized the need for strong governmental control and ruled under harsh laws and authoratative rule, which in some terms caused social distress.    ||
 * Bureaucracy    ||    A constantly changing assembly w/ different aspects to it. First of all the bureau is a selective organization of thuosands of scholars from around the country to provide the political service of china. They were selected through qualifying tests, and a majority of them were distant from the region they ruled. Through this system of qualification, the new dynastic values emphasized in reudcing personal bias and favoritism from the large and influential political class.    ||


 * Assignment 1.2** //E.S.P.I.R.I.T. Chart on __Han Dynasty__//

-The government would also order to produce salt and iron while also standardizing weights, currency, and measures to facilitate trade and promote stability. -Government would also store grains and rice to promote economic popularity, and to keep a surplus, which regulated the local economy. -China was more focused on gathering customs and traditions than being involved in trade, but they have shown signs in trading cooper, rice and wheat.
 * Economy:**

-Most state officials came from the wealthier families who had enough time to invest in learning the chinese language. -According to Confucianism, the individual/leader should practice in respecting and giving oppurtunities to those below them, a common custom to leaders to respect and to gain respect back from the "inferiors". Most other confucianist values were based on ethics to, affecting many parts of people's social lives. -Upper class = land owners + rich and educated, farmer peasents = subsistence + unable to become wealthy or educated. There was a huge gap in between hierarchy standings. + below the farmers were the mean people, those who were forced to work laborous jobs. + they were punished more harshly -China was a more patriarchal family than any other. If the child disobeys the parents, they would be punished, and no parent were wrong in teaching a kid to obey. There was common respect for boys, and the elderly.
 * Social:**

- After taking in Qin's brutal reign, the Hans revoked that change, albiet keeping the central government, by emphasizing in Confucianist values. In the end, this transition lead to improved state bureaucracy and formalized the qualifications to become a state official. (in the end, there were over 130,000 bureaucrats) - One downstep to the chinese government, and technological advancement was the limitation of transport and delivery. China is a large empire, and for the Capital ruler to be a month's journey away, messages took time to get to their destinations
 * Political:**

- Expanded China's territory towards Korea, Indochina, and westard, and allowed for civilizations to come closer in contact for easy trade between India and the Mediterrean nations. -China was isolated from much of the other civilizations, but was also in a multitude of raids by the Huns and other barbarian tribes.
 * Interactions:**

-Most upper-class were not as interested in the gods/God as others were. They were mainly based upon cultural values and politic modivations. But the chinese did emphasized a strong relationship between the bodies on earth and the spirits in the afterlife. -Another philosophy called Daoism appealed to those who sought a natural sort of existance, beliving in ying and yang and balance and the flow of chi and the balance of nature, body and mind. -China had no set religion, anyone and everyone could believe what they wanted to.
 * Religious:**

-Perserved historical records + interest in astronomy and promoted cofucianist philosophies, and the government had came to be the keeper and enforcer of cultural traditions. -Unity and customs took place in China, such that the individual would balance out excess desires with different rituals (Daoism) - There was no set ethic or practice in china. The individual can easily just change out of a system according to how they felt. They were free to believe in anything they wanted to. -Most of chinese life was based on culture, such as art, recitations, poetry, and the spread of scholarship.
 * Intellectual/cultural:**

-Created complex irrgation and canal systems to promote agricultural growth. -Created ox-plows, non-choking harnesses -Developed a complex astronomical system, they even dated a year to be 365.5 days each -Developed in some areas of medicine and math
 * Technology:**

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=======================================================================  Leader Analysis Sheet
 * Assignment 1.3** //Leader Analysis on __Qin Shi Huangdi__//

(259 BC – 210 BC) ||  Title: Emperor || China, Qin dynasty; North and East of China ||  Years in Power 221BC – 210BC || P- Weak gov’t structure; feudal system which requires trust and loyalty; lords ruled their own regions and grew powerful enough to ignore the central gov’t E- Expansion of Chinese Territories commercially, but too weak to support it often unstable due to attacks S- important cultural innovations such as expanding elite bureaucracy and established custom from Confucianism – led to more rebellion to the Zhou dynasty E- weakened tax revenue S- division increase b/c larger population S- language unity P- warring period of 200 years || To rid of the Zhou dynasty, of civil strife. Order under centralization and power. He ruled under fear, a tyrant. Reverse feudal system – widening area of regions + appointing bureaucracy End outside/northern invasions Increase tax revenue + increase efficiency of economy + money || Great Wall being built = less invasions – hard labor, many died, 3,000 miles long, on hills National census = collect info on money + tax Reprimand feudal lord status + appoint new lords in larger providences Tyrant rule – effective in chaotic state, burnt books + attack intellectuals b/c they promote rebellion Organized + strong army to crush invasion Standard coin system, weights + scales + promote road planning + writing system same over nation || Ended Zhou dynasty Attack on formal culture Strong Army against invasions Ruled for short amount of time b/c of tyranny and detrimental attitude Peace brought prosperity to China ||  Long-Term Effects Han dynasty took over Great wall lessened attacks on China = more stability Standardized coin + language system Retained centralized gov’t Expanded territorial control ||
 * Name of Leader: Qin Shi Haungdi ||
 * Lifespan
 * Country/region:
 * Political, Social, & Economic Conditions Prior to Leaders Gaining Power
 * Ideology, Motivation, Goals:
 * Significant Actions & events During Term of Power
 * Short-Term effects:

//"If conformers to law are strong, the country is strong; if conformers to law are weak, the country is weak"// //-// People are essentially evil, that is why they need to be controlled, and when people are controlled, through punishment and enforcement, then society becomes less chaotic and confused Legalism is one of three chinese philosophies that emerged from the **Era of Warring States** //(475-221 B.C.E.)// period in China, and was also one of the three philosophies that sought to end political instability and social chaos. The Main idea of Legalism is to enforce strong authoritative rule through convincing its citizens to follow the laws set forth to them. Everyone is to be equal under the law, officials are selected based on performance to eliminate weak selections, laws were distinctly harsh, and everyone is either punished or rewarded by law.
 * Assignment 1.4** //One of Three chinese Philosophies, __Legalism__//
 * //Legalism//**

In the times of the **Era of Warring States,** Legalism seemed like the best philosophy to follow, because first there was strong control over the people; whoever defied the law was punished harsly, and those who followed the law were rewarded, which would lead to further encouragement. Second, officials were to be selected by their performance and qualifications, leading to a seemingly strong and unbiased group of elite officials.