Ancient China

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Shi Huangdi (Qin Dynasty)

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"first emperor," title the Qin ruler gave himself when he unified. Led by force and his punishments for crimes very severe. Divided China into 36 districts which were controlled by officials who were loyal to him. Standardized China's laws, writing, coins, weights, and measures. Improvements in building, transportation, crop irrigation, and trade. Made peasants pay heavy taxes and work for these projects. Had the Great Wall built to protect China from invaders. Died in 210 BC and harsh laws led to the downfall of the Qin dynasty.

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Qin Dynasty

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(221-210 BCE) The first centralized dynasty of China that used Legalism as its base of belief.

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Legalism

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the belief that people were bad by nature and needed to be controlled through strict laws and harsh punishments

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Great Wall of China

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world's longest man made structure built to keep invaders from the north out of China, started by the Qin Dynasty.

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Terracotta Army

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collection of seven thousand life-sized sculptures made from pottery in the tomb of Shi Huangdi

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centralized government

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A government in which a central authority controls the running of a state, empire or country.

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Workers of Great Wall

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Soldiers and convicts were forced labor and many did not return home due to harsh conditions and died

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Confucius scholars

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Targeted, seen as dangerous because they were educated

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paranoia

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an irrational suspiciousness or distrust of others

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Han Dynasty

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(210 BCE-220 CE) This dynasty continued the centralization of the Qin Dynasty, but focused on Confucianism and education instead of Legalism.