Chinese Empire

I.  How do we know?

A.  Philosophical writings

1.  Confucian

2.  Daoist

3.  Legalist

B. Histories (i.e. Sima Qian)

C.  Archaeology

II.  What do we know?

A.  Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.E.)

1.  Qin Shi Huangdi (r.  221-210 B.C.E.)

-- Tomb at Xian

2.  Power

a) military

-- Xiongnu

-- Great Wall

b) administrative

-- commanderies

-- standardization & centralization

c) intellectual

-- burn books

-- bury scholars

B.  Han Dynasty (202 B.C.E.-220 C.E.)

1. Liu Bang (r. 202-195 B.C.E.)

-- Mandate of Heaven

2.  Power

a) military

b) economic

c) administrative

d) intellectual

-- Confucian influence

-- Ban Zhao's Admonitions for Women

3.  Population & Migration

C.  Three Kingdoms & Six Dynasties

1.  Wei, Wu, Shu, (until 265 C.E.)

2.  Divided (316-589 C.E.)

a) North (loess, cold, wheat)

-- barbarian dynasties

b) South (wetter, warm, rice)

-- six dynasties

3.  Traditions of unity

a) language & Confucianism

b) assimilation

D.  Reunification

1.  Sui Dynasty (581-618 C.E.)

a) standing army

b) Grand Canal

2. Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.)

a) civil service exams

b) arts & technology

E. Greater China

1. North (barbarians)

2. Vietnam

3. Korea & Japan