ABSTRACT
T he Han empire, which created the elaborate bureaucratic system described on page 349, was the culmination of developments that extended over several centuries. The demise of the Shang state in 1046 B.C. (see Chapter 6) was followed by a period of increasing decentralization, the so-called Western Zhou period (1046-771 B.C. ), when subject kingdoms freed themselves from central authority. The ensuing Eastern Zhou period (770-221 B.C. ) saw revolutionary developments in Chinese civilization, including a new urbanism, the development of ironworking technology, and an upsurge of commerce coupled with the invention of coinage. There was also warfare on an unprecedented scale, so endemic that the second part of the Eastern Zhou period is known as the Warring States period (458-221 B.C. ). It ended with the unifi cation of China under the ruler of the state of Qin, who became known as Shihuangdi , “First Emperor.” The Han empire was founded some fi fteen years later. We begin this chapter by discussing the radical changes in Chinese society and economy during the Eastern Zhou period before describing the monuments of Shihuangdi, notably his famous terracotta regiment. The Han empire that followed was itself divided into two phases: Western Han (206 B.C. – A.D. 8) and Eastern Han ( A.D. 25-220). We end with an analysis of the formation of early states in Korea and Japan during the fi fth to seventh centuries A.D.
