MJ World History

Grade 6 / Week 5

Your Week at a Glance

The Qin and Han Dynasties

Name

Teacher

NOTE: If you need help with completing this

lesson, please contact your teacher.
 LCS 6th Grade World History Distance Learning Assignment

Week 5: Parent Notes

This week, students will complete their study of ancient China using materials from the workbook of
their adopted textbook, McGraw-Hill’s Succeeding in Early World History. The following state
standards are addressed in this week’s lesson:

SS.6.W.4.8: Describe the contributions of classical and post classical China.

SS.6.W.4.9: Identify key figures from classical and post classical China.
SS.6.G.2.6 Explain cultural diffusion, and identify the influences of different ancient cultures on one
another.
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Learning Activities

Part I: Students should read pages 338-343 from the workbook and—to the best of their ability--
answer the questions in the margin to guide their reading and understanding.

Part II: Students should access the SPRITE chart in the back of this packet. A SPRITE chart allows you
to study a civilization by looking at different areas of life: social, political, religious, intellectual,
technological, and economic. Follow the directions provided on the SPRITE chart.

OPTIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES

Short video on the Han Dynasty - https://youtu.be/kLStXl6CmS8.
Name Date Class

LESSON 3 SUMMARY
The Qin and the Han Dynasties

SS.6.G.1.7, SS.6.G.2.2, SS.6.G.4.4, SS.6.E.3.2, SS.6.W.4.6, SS.6.W.4.8, SS.6.W.4.9,

SS.6.W.4.10
1. EVALUATING
Underline the changes Qin The Qin Emperor
made to unify and strengthen The Period of Warring States kept the Zhou dynasty fighting for
China. Which change do you more than 200 years. Rulers of local states were strong, and they
think was the most important in ignored the demands of the weaker kings. One of these states
creating a unified China? Why was Qin. The ruler of Qin sent out a large cavalry force to defeat
do you think so? neighboring states in 221 b.c. This ended the Zhou dynasty. The
Qin now controlled China from the Huang He to the Chang Jiang.
The Qin ruler called himself Qin Shihuangdi, which means “the
First Qin Emperor.” This marked a new beginning for China.
Changes made by the Qin would impact China for many centuries.

How Did Qin Change China?

Control of provinces was passed from father to son under the
Zhou dynasty. Qin decided that only he would appoint
governors. By taking direct control of the provinces, Qin
hoped to strengthen and unify China.

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Qin was a dictator. He had absolute control and punished or
killed anyone who disagreed with him. Instead of following
the Mandate of Heaven, Qin’s way of governing was legalism.
He created an efficient but cruel government. Writings that he
disliked were burned. He increased the government’s power
by appointing censors. A censor had to make sure
government workers were actually doing their jobs.
Qin also developed a currency, or type of money, that
everyone had to use. This helped unify China. In addition, he
had scholars simplify the Chinese writing system and clarify its
rules. Qin began building projects throughout the empire. His
tomb, for example, was so large that it housed an army of
life-sized clay soldiers and horses. He had farmers build
palaces, roads, dams, and a huge canal. The purpose of the
canal was to transport supplies to soldiers in distant territories.
It connected central China’s Chang Jiang to what is today the
city of Guangzhou in southern China.

Why Was the Great Wall Built?

Since Qin had united China into one empire, he wanted to
protect his lands from invasion. A large desert, known as the
Gobi, was on the edge of China’s northern border.

338 WORLD HISTORY

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LESSON 3 SUMMARY, continued

Nomads, who the Chinese knew as the Xiongnu, lived in the
Gobi. The Xiongnu fought on horseback and were known for ANALYZING MAPS
attacking settlements. To remain safe from these warriors, 2. Look at the map of both the
other rulers had constructed walls in the north. Qin decided to Qin and Han dynasties. Use
join and strengthen the walls. He put hundreds of thousands the map to answer these
of farmers to work, and the Great Wall was built. questions: Did Han rulers
support emperor Qin’s earlier
decision to build the Great
The End of Qin Rule Wall? How do you know?
Qin was a confident ruler. After his victories in 221 b.c., he
believed his dynasty would rule China forever. However, the
Qin dynasty ended soon after his death in 210 b.c. Qin rule was
very harsh. Both aristocrats and farmers revolted against it,
which led to fighting throughout China. The Qin dynasty was
completely over by 206 b.c., and a new dynasty came to power.

Han Rulers
The Han dynasty rose to power in 202 b.c. and would rule
China for more than 400 years. Liu Bang, a farmer who
became a soldier, was its founder.
The Qin and the Han Empires
0 500 miles 0 500 miles 120°E
N 100°E
0 500 km 120°E 0 500 km
W
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Two-Point Equidistant projection E Two-Point Equidistant projection

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This map compares the geographical areas that both the Qin and
the Han dynasties controlled.
DOPW (Discovering our Past - World)
Chapter 10

Han Wudi
Map Title: Han Empire
File Name: C07-35A-NGS-824133.ai Notes: This map appears placed next to C07-44A
Map Size: Right Third
Proof Notes (Nov 13): Only one Key will appear in pages - this is in place for editorial so you can see placement.
f Date/Proof: Nov 1, 2010 - First Proof
by SRM Nov 13, 2010 - Second Proof

o C07_35A Han Wudi was the first strong emperor of the Han dynasty. He
Jan 17, 2011 - Third Proof
Feb 7, 20011 - Modified by SRM
2018 Font Conversions: November 20, 2015
, 2015
bruary 9, 2016 ruled from 141 b.c. to 87 b.c. He wanted to improve China’s
2018 Grayscale EOCT Conversion: February 9, 2016

government. Han Wudi broke with tradition and looked for

smart and dedicated people for civil service. Government
workers were chosen on the basis of competitive tests, rather
than on their family connections or social class.

WORLD HISTORY  339
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LESSON 3 SUMMARY, continued

To find qualified officials, Han Wudi followed this process:
3. MAKING AN
ARGUMENT • First, scholars and officials recommended candidates.
Under Han rule, people were • Next, candidates took written tests.
chosen for civil service by • Officials graded the test, and the emperor looked over
exams, rather than being the results.
appointed. Was this a better • Finally, candidates who received the highest scores
way to run the government were hired for the jobs.
than the previous system? Why
or why not? Make an argument Government improved with the civil service system, but it still
for or against the civil service favored the rich. The system was supposed to make government
exams created under Han work open to anyone with talent and ability. However, only wealthy
rule. Be sure to include social families could afford to educate their sons for the difficult tests.
classes and education issues
in your answer. Education
To prepare students for civil service exams, the government
opened schools where students studied law, history, and
Confucianism. Students who passed the exams earned jobs
as government workers or teachers. Also, they were
respected in society because they were educated.

The Empire Expands

Farmers had to produce more crops to feed the growing
population in China. Under Han rule, the population grew to
about 60 million. By this time, many farmers only had a small

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

piece of land, since land was divided among sons when a
father died. They could barely produce enough food for their
own families. Most sold their land and became tenant farmers,
working on the estates of wealthy landowners while remaining
poor themselves.
Han armies, meanwhile, conquered more lands. They pushed
north to Korea, south into southeast Asia, and west into
northern India. They even pushed back the Xiongnu. These
gains allowed the Chinese to live in peace for about 150 years.

Han Culture
Literature and the arts flourished in this long period of peace.
Share your argument with a
Writers recorded current events and copied old historical
partner. Then listen to your
works. Painters and sculptors expanded their audience
partner’s argument. Together,
beyond the rulers and aristocrats. They began creating
identify the specific claims in
beautiful art for less prominent families.
each of your arguments.
Finally, identify which claims Confucius’s ideas once again became popular. Filial piety
are supported by evidence gained influence as well. Family ties were strengthened
from the text and any claims because the government became more stable. The new,
that are not. educated class of civil servants also influenced the government.
However, other social classes remained the same, and the daily
life of most changed very little under the Han.

340 WORLD HISTORY

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LESSON 3 SUMMARY, continued

Chinese Inventions 4. MAKING

CONNECTIONS
The Han dynasty was a time when new technology helped
farmers and workers produce more than ever before. Their The Han dynasty oversaw
inventions during this time included: achievements of many types.
• the cast-iron plow, which broke up the soil more easily a. Choose three major
than wooden plows. achievements made during the
Han dynasty to fill in the chart.
• iron tools and techniques to drain swamps and direct
water to dry fields. Han dynasty:
• waterwheels to grind more grain.
• iron drill bits to mine more salt.
• wheelbarrows to carry heavy material on building sites.
• silk manufacturing.
• paper, allowing people to keep written records.
• rudders and a new way to move the sails of ships so they
could sail against the wind. This meant ships could travel
farther, and China’s merchants shipped their goods to
areas such as India and the Red Sea.

Medical Advances
The Han dynasty also was known for its advances in medicine.
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

Doctors began using herbs to treat illnesses and found that

certain foods prevented disease. They also began a treatment
known as acupuncture, in which doctors helped ease pain by
using thin needles to pierce patients’ skin at specific points to b. Describe how two of these
increase the flow of energy. achievements made significant
impacts on the world.

On the Silk Road

Chinese traders gained great wealth during the Han period.
They sent expensive goods to other parts of the world. Trade
eventually caused an exchange of different ideas and goods
between China and other parts of the world.

New Contacts With the West

Emperor Han Wudi became interested in exploration. He sent a
man named Zhang Qian to explore areas west of China. Zhang
was supposed to recruit allies to help China fight its enemies.
Zhang returned to China after 13 years with no allies. However,
he had learned about the geography, people, and culture of
other places. He visited a kingdom where he saw large, strong
horses. It was most likely in the area of present-day Kazakhstan.

WORLD HISTORY  341
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LESSON 3 SUMMARY, continued

Han Wudi was pleased with Zhang’s report because he
ANALYZING MAPS wanted horses for his soldiers. This led to trade between
5. Look at the map showing the China and western regions.
movement of goods along Chinese merchants exchanged silk, spices, and other luxury
the Silk Road. Choose two of the goods for horses. The trade route to the west came to be
goods shown in the map key. known as the Silk Road to honor China’s most famous export.
Use the map routes, compass,
and place names to describe
the movement of those goods Trade Expands
along the appropriate trade
The Silk Road was more than just a single road. It was a network
routes.
of trade routes. Over time, it grew to be 4,000 miles (6,436 km)
long and ran from western China to the Mediterranean. Travel
along the road was difficult because the road was rough and
there were bandits. Trade routes also linked east and west by
sea and were sometimes called the spice routes.
Merchants traded many items along the Silk Road, including
luxury items, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and grains. The Silk Road
spread Chinese inventions such as paper to other regions.

Trading in the Ancient World

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Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

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Silk Road Gold Oils Silk
Other trade routes Grains Papyrus Spices
Copper Horns/Tusks Pearls Teakwood
Cotton cloth Leopard skins Sandalwood

DOPW (Discovering our Past - World)

Chapter 10 The Silk Road and its various branches started in Changan and
Map Title: Trading in the Ancient World
File Name: C07-09A-NGS-824133.ai
Map Size: Right-Third
ended at Antioch and Constantinople.
Date/Proof: Nov 1, 2010 - First Proof
Nov 12, 2010 - Second Proof
Jan 17, 2011 - Third Proof
Feb 7, 20011 - Modified by SRM
Feb 25, 2011- Modified by SRM (moved key up 1p0

Buddhism Reaches China

2018 Font Conversions: November 20, 2015
2018 Grayscale EOCT Conversion: February 9, 2016

Buddhism spread across the Silk Road from India to China.

At first, the Chinese were not interested in the new religion.
However, in the unrest following the collapse of the Han
dynasty, Buddhism began to spread through China.

342 WORLD HISTORY

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LESSON 3 SUMMARY, continued

Why Did the Han Dynasty 6. MAKING INFERENCES

Collapse? Buddhist ideas spread from India
to China. Was this exchange of
Han Wudi had been a strong emperor, but those that followed
ideas easy or difficult to achieve,
him were weak and dishonest. Farmers were forced to give up
and why?
their property by corrupt officials and greedy aristocrats.
People rebelled, and the Han capital, Luoyang, was destroyed.
By a.d. 220, civil war had divided China. It remained divided
into small kingdoms for about 400 years.

Buddhism Wins Followers

Many Chinese were frightened by the fall of the Han dynasty
and the civil war that followed. They turned to Buddhist ideas
because the new religion promised that devotion could end
suffering and lead to eternal happiness. Daoists and followers
of Confucius appreciated Buddhist philosophy. Its ideas had
influenced their own rituals and beliefs. Buddhism became
one of China’s major religions by the a.d. 400s.

REVIEW LESSON 3
Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.

1. DETERMINING CENTRAL IDEAS Why did Qin Shihuangdi’s rise to power

mark a new beginning for China? How did his rule prepare the way for the Han
dynasty that followed?

2. EVALUATING With the end of Qin rule, the Han rose to power. On a separate
sheet of paper, write an essay to answer this question: Why is the Han dynasty one
of the most important dynasties in China’s history? Cite specific examples in your
answer, both from the Han dynasty and those that came before.

WORLD HISTORY  343
 SPRITE CHART: HAN DYNASTY

Directions: Find examples of each category from your readings (pages 340-343) on the Han Dynasty. Make
sure you write in complete sentences. The first one is done for you.

Categories Han Dynasty

Social Confucianism came back under the Han Dynasty so family ties became stronger. Social
Family, Gender Relations, classes basically stayed the same. Daily life changed very little during the Han Dynasty,
Social Classes, Injustice, especially for farmers. (page 340)
Lifestyles

Political
Leaders, Nobles,
Type of Government,
War, Treaties, Laws,
Power

Religious
Religious Beliefs, New
Religions, Holy books,
Beliefs, Teachings

Intellectual Achievements

Art, Music, Writing,

Literature, Philosophy,
Math, Science, Education
Medicine
Technological
New Inventions,
Tools, Weapons,
Technical Solutions,
(water, farming,
roads, etc.)

Economic
Money System, Bartering
Trade, Types of Business,
Products

Short Response: In 3-5 sentences, explain why the Han Dynasty is considered one of the most important dynasties in
China’s history. Use at least two different categories from your SPRITE chart in your answer.