Preview

Continuities And Changes In The Chinese Dynasty

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
948 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Continuities And Changes In The Chinese Dynasty
After my visit to China, I have noticed three vital aspects of three Chinese dynasties that have either benefited or have been detrimental to the success of these respective dynasties. In the Han dynasty, their Confucian way of government administration, and their useful and bearable taxes led to a successful long-term dynasty. In the Qin dynasty, their Legalist ideals of government, and their unnecessary high taxes led to an oppressive society that accomplished incredible achievements in a short amount of time by utilizing fear and cruel tyranny against their enemies. In the Zhou dynasty, the unreliability of the dynastic cycle caused the occasional increase of taxes due to the change from one dynasty to the other. CONCLUSION SENTENCE OR ADD …show more content…
The Qin dynasties powerful centralized government unified China by building a highway network that extended for 4,000 miles, and by setting a universal standard throughout China for writing, law, currency, weights, and measures. These two very important advancements were a lethal part of the unification process of the Qin dynasty. While the Han dynasty, also maintained the centralized bureaucracy of the Qin dynasty, and furthermore enhanced the ideals of it’s dynasty due to their Confucian philosophies. The Han dynasty also utilized a part of the feudal system, but their previously established centralized government was all that was needed to maintain the unification of China throughout their reign. On the other hand, the feudalistic government system of the Zhou dynasty did not consist of a strong centralized government. The feudal system was never able to unify China due to how the power of the dynasty was spread out among many different nobles in many different areas. The feudal system eventually caused the downfall of the Zhou dynasty due to the increasing power of the nobles. The nobles eventually became greedy, longing for more land, which caused the rapid decline of the Zhou dynasty. CONCLUSION

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Both Han China and Imperial Rome used a centralized government with roads to help them rule their large empire, yet Han China had Confucianism to legitimize their rule while Roman emperors were dependent on the support of a large military force for legitimacy from 204 B.C.E to 476 C.E.…

    • 287 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Unification of China was a campaign led by Qin king and first Chinese emperor, Qin want to unify all of that was ancient China and to solidify his rule to all of it. This campaign was part of a war called the Warring States Period. Even the Zhou Dynasty lasted for almost 900 years, its territory was divided into numerous states. In 221 B.C., Chinese were unified for the first time to construct a great country that ended the long eara of disunity and warring. In that year the Western frontier state of Qin, the most aggressive of the Warring States, subjugated the last of its rival state.…

    • 109 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Han China chose the middle path between the two diverse methods of government and pursued the policies of administrative centralization and imperial expansion. In contrast, Imperial Rome centralized political and military power which coincided with the preservation of traditional republican offices and form of government. The Han government believed that the network of political alliances in the Zhou Dynasty caused chaos between states, but the tightly woven Qin dynasty diminished the reason for imperial family members the sustain the empire. Han China was preferably divided into administrative districts that were governed by officials. These officials reached the emperor’s expectations, but allowed his authority over them while the bureaucrats implied his policies. Although, original forms of governing were adjusted in both places; the military responded directly to the emperor or ruler to avoid the problems caused by generals commanding personal armies. Imperial Rome progressed, from a previous dictatorship, by fashioning a centralized political government and unifying military power. Imperial Rome, in comparison to Han china, handled governmental functions with more concern. The Roman Emperor accrued copious amounts of power for himself and took complete responsibility during these times.…

    • 514 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One major similarity between the administration policies of Han China and Imperial Rome was that both empires had very centralized governments. In China, the emperor had all the power. While there were smaller units of government, the emperor controlled everything within the empire. Han China’s government structure was modeled after its precursor, the Qin dynasty. The Han elaborated on the original structure, perfecting it. In Rome, the emperor was also the most powerful; however the Roman people had an illusion of power not seen in Han China. Although the emperor held the…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First of all, every major nation during period 1200BCE and 220CE, Zhou, Qin, Han, established centralized government. This is crucial for Chinese history in that it is hard to find nations that established centralized government before these nations. Throughout the world, there were some centralized nations such as the Roman Empire of Mediterranean region in this era. However, these nations differed in how they had established centralized government. Zhou was able to establish initial centralized government mainly by mandate of heaven, which is the concept of king having both power and responsibility for ruling the nation. Qin established strong centralized government based on powerful military and strict legalism. Han established the most concrete centralization among these countries because instead of vassals or aristocrats, government officials of Han were sent to rule the provinces. Moreover, unlike Qin, Han adopted Confucianism instead of strict legalism. These nations endeavored to establish centralized government because it had advantages to the decentralized government in that the politic was stabled and there was less possibility of rebellion. Although these nations differed in how they established centralized government, kings and emperors of these nations had strong power compared to former…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    From 206 B.C.E. - 220 C.E., the Han dynasty, in China, accumulated many political control methods, as did Imperial Rome reigning from 31 B.C.E. – 476 C.E. However, there were more differences than similarities between the two empires/dynasties. Two main differences were China and Rome’s territorial expansion and their political philosophies (mandate of heaven and monarchy). A similarity between these two empires would be their centralized government adopting bureaucracy.…

    • 276 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    China flourished as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan societies under the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties. Officials governed effectively, economic development grew and farmers fed people, merchants and manufacturers prospered. Confucianism and Daoism was the government foundation, social structure and culture. Agriculture remained the foundation for the economy. Strong central government continued with powerful emperors and educated bureaucracy with the examination system. Landowners were at the top of the social class as well as the educated bureaucrats and military leaders. The merchants and artisans had a great deal of wealth but were…

    • 1467 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    China was unified in 221 B.C.E. for the first time in many centuries after decades of constant warfare (also called the “Warring States Period”) for the first time in centuries under the leadership of Qin (McKay, 178). The king of Qin did not feel that the title of king was grand enough and created the title “Emperor” (huangdi) and he called himself the First Emperor (Shihuangdi) in hopes of many successors (McKay, 178-179). The Qin state soon fell apart and led to the beginning of the Han Dynasty, which managed to take power and keep China unified until 220 C.E. The unification of China affected many parts of politics, culture, and social life during the Qin and Han Dynasties.…

    • 799 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The rich ii. Women iii. Lower classes iv. Scholar-gentry e. Failure of Han to limit power of local lords i. Size of empire ii. Local uprisings 7.…

    • 1086 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Song set up supervised markets along the border to encourage trade between them and its neighbors. In 971CE the government established the first Maritime Trade Supervisorate followed by four others. Its roles included the taxation of imported goods, government purchase and sale of imported goods, and to issue foreign trade permits for local merchants. Chinese goods that flowed north in large quantities included tea, silk, copper coins, paper and printed books etc. The return flow included horses that Song needed desperately for its armies but also other animals and goods that had traveled across the Silk Road.…

    • 352 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Restoration of China

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages

    I. The restoration of centralized imperial rule in China A. The Sui dynasty (589-618 C.E.) 1. After the Han dynasty, turmoil lasted for more than 350 years 2. Reunification by Yang Jian in 589 3. The rule of the Sui a. Construction of palaces and granaries; repairing the Great Wall b. Military expeditions in central Asia and Korea c. High taxes and compulsory labor services 4. The Grand Canal integrated economies of north and south 5. The fall of the Sui d. High taxes and forced labor generated hostility among the people e. Military reverses in Korea f. Rebellions broke out in north China beginning in 610 g. Sui Yangdi was assassinated in 618, the end of the dynasty B. The Tang dynasty (618-907 C.E.) 6. Tang Taizong (627-649) h. A rebel leader seized Chang'an and proclaimed a new dynasty, the Tang i. Tang Taizong, the second Tang emperor; ruthless but extremely competent j. era of unusual stability and prosperity 7. Extensive networks of transportation and communications 8. Equal-field system--land allotted according to needs 9. Bureaucracy of merit through civil service exams 10. Foreign relations k. Political theory: China was the Middle Kingdom, or the center of civilization l. Tributary system became diplomatic policy 11. Tang decline m. Casual and careless leadership led to dynastic crisis n. Rebellion of An Lushan in 755 weakened the dynasty o. The Uighurs became de facto rulers p. The equal-field system deteriorated q. A large-scale peasant rebellion led by Huang Chao lasted from 875 to 884 r. Regional military commanders gained power and were beyond control of the emperor s. The last Tang emperor abdicated his throne in 907 C.…

    • 1042 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Han Dynasty Legacy

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The early Han Dynasty was ruled by Liu Bang. The Han also saw extreme cultural developments with confucianism which was compressed which had been minimized by Qin Dynasty. The Han Dynasty had a centralized government which was highly liked and ruled with dignity for about 400 years, ruling less than the Qin Dynasty. Than Han Dynasty was truly for the people doing everything as a government to see their people prosper giving tax breaks, hosting events and also exceeding research of human care. Early Han rulers expanded their empire almost to the size of modern China. Chinese society had an exceptional foundation. The emperor was at the top and a large body of officials reached down to the village. Han government replaced emphasis on legalism with confucianism created the civil service system. The qualifications required scholars to take an exam to serve as government officials under the empire, based on confusion leader, who should be chosen based on their ability. Under Han rule, Chinese developed their first golden age, the Pax Sinica. Other achievements were advancing the production of paper, chinese became very wealthy through trade, developed a monopoly on the production of slope. A golden age where there is peace and prosperity meaning wealth. During golden ages, civilizations developed achievements and discoveries. During this period, Chinese invented many inventions. Chinese also improved farming by creating a new tubulated plow. This change is important because the number of Chinese people have grown greatly. The Han emperors told their people farming is important work.The Han people were very aggressive and usually having full control over the mining of salt and the making of…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Han Dynasty System

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The most important thing for a country such as China is that it should know how to keep its country thriving as well as prospering the people. China during the Han dynasty has rich natural resources, and that it also have a lot of citizens to care for.…

    • 1555 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The idea of ruling a powerful government based on the principle of using two conflicting ideologies at the same time appeared foreign to most dynasties of early China. In early Chinese times, after the Period of the Warring States, two ideologies emerged: Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism stressed a strong central government that expressed harsh laws while Confucianism had a decentralized government, placing trust in conscientious and learned individuals to work together to solve political issues. These two schools of thought were in stark contrast to each other and, up until the Han dynasty, had never been combined with each other through government policy. The Qin dynasty, for example implemented a strict Legalist government while the Zhou dynasty applied a decentralized Confucianist government, which, as with the Qin dynasty, did not last long. As opposed to the Qin and Zhou dynasties, the combination of Legalist and Confucianist values led to a successful government in the Han dynasty because it gave way to a strong central government along with a rise in cultural and intellectual thinking while also checking each of the ideologies to prevent one from becoming too dominant.…

    • 1655 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tang Dynasty Essay

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The ways in which Chinese society and government evolved and changed over the centuries as power shifted from each dynasty studied varies. First, the Tang Dynasty was the golden age of Chinese civilization with women in power. Second, the Song Dynasty was when China was reunified. For infrastructure and technology, both dynasties come together. Such as, canals and waterways allowed for trade to grow in China and beyond. The mechanical clock developed during this time. Gunpowder was also developed in this time and provided a new weapon source. Also, block printing and moveable type were developed. Along with the infrastructure and technology going together with both dynasties, population growth and agricultural productivity did as well. So,…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays