Qin
 Shi Huangdi –dictator
o Legalist
o Abolished feudalism
o Centralized
government
 Built Wall
 Uniformed laws
 Heavy taxes for peasants
 Shortest dynasty
Han
 Bureaucracy grows
o Postal service
o Civil service exam –
based on Confucius
o Built canals, irrigation
 Collapse
o Internal power
struggles
o High taxes for
peasants
o Outside invaders
 Paper
 Opened up silk roads
 Ox. Horse collar
 Traditions – patriarchal
system
o Elite
o Peasants
o Artisans
o Unskilled laborers
 Confucian relationships
o Ruler subject
o Father/son
o Elder bro/younger
bro
o Husband/wife
 Hierarchy in Provinces
o Scholar
o Military
o Artisans
o Peasants
o Landless peasants
 Hierarchy in Capital
o Emperor
o Officials
o Eunuchs
o Military
o Artisans
 Multi-family-extended family
Mauryan
 Ashoka greatest ruler
o Converted to
Buddhism
o Building projects
o Attempts harmony
between religions
o Sends missionaries
 Large efficient bureaucracy
o Maintain order
o Collect taxes
o Build infrastructure
 Collapse from outside
invaders
Gupta
 Ruled through central
government
o Allowed village to
govern themselves
 Alliances and military
conquests
 Firm supporters of Hinduism
 Control based on local lords
o Paid tribute for local
autonomy
 Order from Caste System
 Collapse- slow decline from
northern invaders
 Classic “golden age”
o Inoculation of
smallpox
o Identified planets
o Pi, zero, decimal
system
o Numerical system –
“Arabic”
 Women’s rights diminished
 Declared minors needed
supervision of males
 Daughters neglectedinfanticide
 Couldn’t own property
 Child marriage (six/seven)
norm.- arranged
 Caste system- little slavery
o Brahmin
o Kshatriya- warrior
o Vaishya- producing
o Shudra- servants
o Harijansuntouchables