THE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT

OF IMPERIAL CHINA
Which method of selecting officials led to the best leaders for China?
CHAPTER 7 * SECTION 2
The Government of Imperial China
SECTION 2:
1.) ACCORDING TO THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN, WHEN CAN PEOPLE
OVERTHROW THE EMPEROR?

People can
overthrow an
emperor when he
rules badly.
SECTION 2
WHAT IS A BUREAUCRACY?
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN IT BECAME CORRUPT IN CHINA?

A bureaucracy is an organized group of government
officials.
When the bureaucracy became corrupt, people
suffered from high taxes, forced labor, and attacks
by bandits. Warlords who opposed the emperor
fought with one another. The government grew
weak and was not able to protect people.
HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/W
ATCH?V=YLWORYTOTO4

SECTION 2
WHAT HAPPENED TO CHINA WHEN THE HAN DYNASTY
LOST THE MANDATE OF HEAVEN?

When the Han dynasty fell,
China broke into separate
kingdoms. It was reunited by
the Sui dynasty.
CONTENT TERMS IN SECTION 2
Emperor
Imperial
Dynasty
Bureaucracy
Warlord
SECTION 2
CH. 7 VOCABULARY CARD #1

Ch. 7
content
term
Definition of
word
Symbol
or
drawing
Write a
sentence
using the
word in it
(underline
word)
Warlord
A military leader operating
outside the control of the
government
Bandits attacked
farmers in the
countryside. This led
to warlords to oppose
the emperor and fight
against one another.
CHAPTER 7 * SECTION 3

Aristocracy: The Tang Dynasty
SECTION 3
1. WHO WERE SCHOLAR-OFFICIALS?
Scholar-officials were scholars
who were given government
jobs only after passing a civil
service examination to prove
they were qualified.
SECTION 3
2.) THE EXAMINATION FOR SCHOLAR-OFFICIALS WAS
MAINLY BASED ON WHAT BODY OF KNOWLEDGE?
The examination was
mainly based on the
teachings of
Confucius.
SECTION 3
3.) DURING THE TANG DYNASTY, WHY DID ARISTOCRATS
CONTINUE TO HOLD MOST GOVERNMENT OFFICES?
Only the wealthy could
afford the tutors, books,
and study time needed
to prepare for the
exams.
SECTION 3
CONTENT TERMS
Aristocracy
Civil Service Examinations

Concepts:
- Civil Service exams based largely on Confucius
- Exam favored aristocrats
- Peasant rebellions and battles between generals ended the Tang dynasty.

SECTION 2
CH. 7 VOCABULARY CARD #1

Ch. 7
content
term
Definition of
word
Symbol
or
drawing
Write a
sentence
using the
word in it
(underline
word)
Warlord
A military leader operating
outside the control of the
government
Bandits attacked
farmers in the
countryside. This led
to warlords to oppose
the emperor and fight
against one another.
CHAPTER 7 * SECTION 4
Meritocracy: The Song Dynasty
SECTION 4
1.) ACCORDING TO EMPERORS AND SCHOLARS, KNOWLEDGE OF
THE CONFUCIAN IDEAS WOULD PRODUCE WHAT TYPE OF
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL?
Government officials who
had studied Confucius
would be rational, moral,
and able to maintain order.
SECTION 4
2.) HOW DID THE PROCESS OF BECOMING A GOVERNMENT
OFFICIAL CHANGE DURING THE SONG PERIOD?
People from lower classes were also
allowed to become government officials
by attending state-supported local
schools and could go on to the university
to become scholars.
SECTION 4
3.) WHY DID PEOPLE IN MEDIEVAL CHINA WANT
GOVERNMENT JOBS?
People wanted these jobs
because government officials
were respected and enjoyed
privileges, such as being excused
from taxes and military service.
SECTION 4 KEY CONTENT TERMS
Meritocracy

** You do not have to do #4 in this section
CHAPTER 7 * SECTION 5
Government by Foreigners: The Period of Mongol Rule
THE MONGOLS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szxPar0BcMo


SECTION 5
1.) WHY DID KUBLAI KHAN END THE SYSTEM OF
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS?
He did not believe that
Confucian learning was
needed for government
jobs, and he did not want
to rely on the Chinese to
run his government.
SECTION 5
2.) WHOM DID KUBLAI KHAN CHOOSE TO FILL
IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT POSITIONS?
He appointed
relatives, other
Mongols, and
trusted
foreigners.
SECTION 5
3.) WHAT HAPPENED TO CHINESE SCHOLARS
UNDER MONGOL RULE?
Chinese scholars
worked only as
teachers and
minor
government
officials.
SECTION 5 KEY CONTENT TERMS
You do not have to do #4
CHAPTER 7 * SECTION 5
The Revival of the Civil Service System
Hiring Scholar-Officials
Helped China
emphasized rational, moral behavior, justice,
kindness, loyalty to the emperor, proper
conduct, and the importance of family

ensured that officials were trained
and talented
gave poor men who were ambitious and
hardworking the chance
Hiring Scholar-Officials
Hurt China
stood in the way of progress by not
teaching and testing knowledge of
science, mathematics, or engineering

Confucian scholars had little respect for
merchants, business, and trade; trade and
business were not encouraged.

bureaucrats became set
in their ways
GROUP WORK
PROCESSING:
In a group:
Determine which method of selecting
Chinese officials you think led to the best
leaders.
Create a sensory figure for the type of official
(Aristocrat, Foreigner, or Scholar) that shows
what make them good leaders.

SENSORY FIRGURE: a simple drawing with labels
giving at least four statements of what that person
might be seeing, hearing, saying, feeling, or doing.

I feel
loyalty
to my
emper
or
Kublai
Khan ,
NOT
the
Chines
e
people