Essay On Han Dynasty

China is one of the world’s oldest civilizations, spanning over three thousand years. It was home to several influential civilizations and dynasties. Many times in Chinese history, the country was divided but dynasties would come along and reunite China. Many people have wondered: Which dynasty united China best? Arguably the most efficient and effective dynasty to unite China was the Han dynasty. Evidence can prove that the Qin dynasty was not the most effective. After the Zhou dynasty collapsed in 256 BCE. The period after its collapse was known as the warring states period. Many philosophies started getting thought up before and during the warring states era, but the most famous ones were Confucianism and Legalism. Confucianism believes

Qin Shihuangdi ruled with an iron fist because he was a staunch Legalist. After his death, the dynasty fell but not for long. After the Qin fell, the Han came into power and used the Confucian government. This dynasty was one of the longest-lasting in Chinese history, unlike the Qin who didn't even get a second emperor before it broke apart.

The Han dynasty’s Confucian government system is better for unifying the people of China than the Qin and their legalistic government style. The Qin dynasty used the system of legalism in its government. Legalism gives the emperor and his government full control. The family unit was seen as a threat to this control. Therefore, Qin Shihuangdi sought to weaken the family unit to maintain his position of power. When Qin Shihuangdi attempted to do so his efforts were met with heavy opposition because most people valued the family unit. Confucianism aims to strengthen it. The people didn’t like rulers who tried to take away their rights like Qin Shihuangdi. This is why right after Qin Shihuangdi passed away a “period of civil war” emerged but “it didn’t last

When Qin Shihuangdi reached his throne during the warring states period of Chinese history, he was very young, only 13 when he came to power in 246 BCE. He only took control of all the Chinese lands in 221 BCE after he defeated the last of the rival states. Compared to the Han dynasty, which after the fall of the Qin “quickly established” its control over the former Qin dynasty and the other warring states. Qin Shihuangdi, as stated before, was a very harsh leader. He had harsh punishments for every crime and did not pay attention to his people unless they were doing something that he didn't like. This is because in his mind the common people were as stated by Han Fei, “The intelligence of the people is not to be relied upon any more than the mind of a baby." This shows he only united his peers and fellow intellectuals. If he truly united China, he would listen to all of his people. This is why the Han united China because the Han would listen to all of his people. During Qin Shihuangdi’s reign over China, he was described by Sima Qian to have “killed men as though he could never finish” and how he would "punish men as though he were afraid he would never get around to them all” because of that “the whole world revolted against him.” All of this evidence implies that he did not have full control because of how many people he would kill just to keep his control. If he unified China he wouldn’t have to kill so