Soldiers
Before the unification of China, each state had its own military. After the unification of China, the militaries combined. Men were obligated to serve in the military for two years between the ages of 23 and 56. Even after serving for two years, they could be called back in case of an emergency. These soldiers were not paid but were given food and equipment. Guard duty was given to those who served in peace time, they could guard The Great Wall of China or guard cities. Soldiers often had to defend from attacking Mongols. These soldiers used chariots, crossbow, bows and arrows, and swords as their weapons. Men were dressed in metal and leather armor. The armor were pieces of leather and metal overlapped on cloth which allowed the soldiers more flexibility. Compared to the armies they often fought, they weren't very strong. Other soldiers were skilled in horseback combat, while Chinese soldiers had very little training, as they were civilians who were only there because they were called upon. The ranks in the military were: Unit commander, Second in command, General, Lieutenant General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Captain, Lieutenant, Detachment Commander, and Garrison Commander.
Slaves
Slavery started in ancient china during the Xia dynasty and lasted for about 1800 years. When the Chinese learned the art of growing crops and saw how much work it required, they decided it would be easier to capture people from other tribes to do the work for them. Slaves were allowed no freedom and once their masters died they were killed or buried alive to serve their masters in the afterlife.
After the Xia dynasty ended, there wasn't much change for slaves within the next dynasty, the Shang dynasty. People captured in battle weren't the only ones forced into slavery, in addition, the people who were no use to the tribe were also forced into labor. During the Zhou dynasty, slave masters became more lenient with their punishments. They started to use “pottery man”- a sculpture with the likeness of man- to serve them in the afterlife. Some people were sold into slavery by their families who were in debt, or they were born into it because their mothers were slaves.
Most slaves worked in the fields and grew crops, free people also did the same kind of work. Some slaves were servants in the homes of rich families. The emperor would own hundreds of slaves. Slaves accounted for 1% of china’s population.
After the Xia dynasty ended, there wasn't much change for slaves within the next dynasty, the Shang dynasty. People captured in battle weren't the only ones forced into slavery, in addition, the people who were no use to the tribe were also forced into labor. During the Zhou dynasty, slave masters became more lenient with their punishments. They started to use “pottery man”- a sculpture with the likeness of man- to serve them in the afterlife. Some people were sold into slavery by their families who were in debt, or they were born into it because their mothers were slaves.
Most slaves worked in the fields and grew crops, free people also did the same kind of work. Some slaves were servants in the homes of rich families. The emperor would own hundreds of slaves. Slaves accounted for 1% of china’s population.