Han-Xiongnu Relations

First Emperor

Born Ying Zheng

259-210 BCE

King Zheng

r. 246-221 BCE

Qin Shi Huangdi

r. 221-210 BCE

Qin Standarization

Title of Huangdi (Emperor)

Replaces Wang (King)

Administrative system
Law
Written script
Weights, measures, currency, axle length
Thought

Burning of books, 213 BCE
Execution of scholars, 212 BCE

Ambitious policies

Military campaigns

Northern Campaign

300,000 men

Meng Tian

Southern Campaign

Building projects

Defensive walls
1 million die
Capital at Xianyang
120,000 feudal families as hostages
New Palace
Roads
4,000 miles total
Imperial tomb

700,000 laborers

Fall of Qin

Zhao Gao, d. 207

Li Si, d. 208

Han Longevity

Capitalized on the Qin institutions
Moderated harsh Qin policies

Reduced severity of laws
Slowed pace of consolidation and expansion
Qin: 221-210 BCE
Han: 202-86 BCE

Liu Bang (Gaozu), r. 202-195 BCE

Gaozu’s Policies

Moderated harsh Qin punishments
Lowered the tax rate to 1/15 of crop
Abandoned Qin centralized control
Princedoms occupy 2/3 of country
Bureaucratic form of government

Threats to Han Order, ca. 160 BCE

Internal

Princedoms

External

Xiongnu

Han Wudi (r. 141-87 BCE) the Consolidator and Warrior

Eliminated Power of Princedoms

Pastoral Nomadism

Steppe, 10-20 in. rain annually
Desert, under 10 in. rain annually

Herding Economy

Positive: Survival in semiarid regions
Negative: Disease, predators, weather

Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu) Confederation (209 BCE to 155 CE)

Maodun (Mao-tun), r. 209-174 BCE
Shanyu (Shan-yü)

Discussion: Foreign Relations

1. According to Barfield, what was the internal political structure of the Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu) confederation?

2. According to Barfield, what held the (Hsiung-nu) confederation together?

3. How do Di Cosmo and Barfield agree and disagree on the reasons for the formation of the Xiongnu confederation in 209 BCE? Do you find one to be more persuasive than the other?

4. Based on your reading of Di Cosmo and Barfield, to what extent was a Chinese centered world view of foreign relations operational in the period from 2000 BCE to about 100 BCE?