Brian G. answered • 10/09/21
Caring instructor whose specializes in World History
The Qin dynasty was a short-lived "unification dynasty." It unified China for the first time. The approach of the Qin to power was a sort of absolutism called Legalism--which stressed absolute rule by law and power of the king. The Qin was also highly militaristic. The Han dynasty backed away from the absolutism of the Qin. The Han stressed Confucianism--consulting with the advisors, rather than the absolute rule of the emperor. The Han were able to use many of the governmental tools created by the Qin, and build on the foundations of Qin rule. But the Han tried to make government more cooperative, and less arbitrary. The Han also stressed Confucianism over Legalism. This cooperative nature is part of the reason why the Han dynasty was so long lived--lasting over 400 years.
