Question

nese dynasties (qin & han dynastic cycles)
directions: complete the table with important facts about the qin and han dynasties.

	qin	han
years in power
first emperor
major accomplishments (period of prosperity)
what led to their downfall? (periods of decline and rebellion)

Explanation:

To complete the table, we recall historical facts about the Qin and Han Dynasties:

Years in Power:

• Qin: 221 - 207 BCE (about 15 years)
• Han: Western Han (202 BCE - 9 CE) and Eastern Han (25 - 220 CE), total around 400 years (combined Western and Eastern Han)

First Emperor:

• Qin: Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng)
• Han: Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu) for Western Han; Eastern Han started with Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu)

Major Accomplishments (Period of Prosperity):

• Qin: Unified China, standardized writing, currency, measurements; built the Great Wall, Lingqu Canal, and a centralized bureaucracy.
• Han: Expansion of territory (Silk Road opened), advancements in science (paper invention, seismometer), Confucianism as state ideology, economic prosperity.

What led to their downfall? (Periods of Decline and Rebellion):

• Qin: Harsh legalism, heavy taxation, forced labor (Great Wall, etc.), peasant revolts (e.g., Dazexiang Uprising) after Qin Shi Huang’s death.
• Han: Western Han: Weak emperors, power struggles (Wang Mang’s usurpation). Eastern Han: Corruption, powerful eunuchs, Yellow Turban Rebellion, warlord fragmentation.

Answer:

Category	Qin	Han
First Emperor	Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng)	Liu Bang (Western Han); Liu Xiu (Eastern Han)
Major Accomplishments (Prosperity)	Unified China, standardized systems, Great Wall, centralized rule	Silk Road, paper, Confucianism, territorial expansion, scientific advances
Downfall Causes	Harsh rule, revolts (Dazexiang), weak successors	Corruption, eunuchs, Yellow Turban Rebellion, warlord split (Eastern); Wang Mang (Western)