Qin  秦 dynasty

The establishment of the Chinese Empire



The state of Qin emerged victorious from the Warring States Period.

The name "china" can be traced back to this state.

The state relied on the legalism, which provided the basis for the criminal law.

Due to the Qin dynasty, the Chinese empire was established and a unified state was created.

Han 汉 dynasty

Interplay of politics



The Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) can be divided into an early and a late period of time.

The early period was marked by re-feudalization. A policy, which was based on the Daoist principle of wuwei, led to prosperity in society.

With the introduction of Confucianism as a state doctrine, this policy changed and led to a loss of power.

The late period of the dynasty can be assigned to the early medieval times. This time was marked by the threat of the Xiongnu, corruption of the ruling class and natural disasters.

Historical classification

Characteristics of ancient and medieval Chinese history

A change in the social order was characteristic at the time of chinese classical antiquity. A bureaucracy arose, which led to the emergence of different social classes. In this way the power of the nobility was increasingly restricted.

With the transition to the medieval times, this social order changed again. A coexistence of power-bearing family clans, religious communities and state institutions emerged.