How did legalism help Shi Huangdi centralize Han power? Select all that apply.
To determine how legalism helped Shi Huangdi centralize Han power, we need to understand what legalism is and how it operates. Legalism is a philosophical and political ideology that emerged during the Warring States period in ancient China. It emphasizes strict adherence to the law and the use of rewards and punishments to maintain social order, stability, and centralized power.
To answer the question correctly, we need to consider various ways in which legalism could have aided Shi Huangdi in centralizing power. Here are some possible options:
1. Imposing a strict legal code: Legalism promotes a comprehensive legal system that governs all aspects of society. By implementing and enforcing such a code, Shi Huangdi could have exerted strong control over the population and ensured obedience to his rule.
2. Establishing a powerful bureaucracy: Legalism emphasizes the importance of bureaucratic administration. Shi Huangdi could have utilized legalist principles to create a highly centralized and efficient bureaucracy, thereby consolidating his authority and reducing the influence of regional and local powers.
3. Suppressing dissent and promoting unity: Legalism provides mechanisms for identifying and suppressing dissent or opposition. Shi Huangdi may have used legalist methods, such as harsh punishments for dissenters, to maintain a sense of unity and discourage challenges to his rule.
4. Redistributing land and wealth: Legalism advocates for the redistribution of resources to ensure social equality and prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a few. Shi Huangdi could have used legalist principles to limit the influence of the nobility and redistribute land and wealth, consolidating his authority and weakening potential rivals.
Given these options, we can now select the ones that apply to how legalism helped Shi Huangdi centralize Han power.