Classical Chinese civilizations had very distinct social structures. Classes of high status, such as royal emperors, government officials, and other nobility are always of a higher rank, which is partly due to their educational opportunities that other classes, such as peasants and merchants, don't have access to. The Chinese often experienced internal conflict between these classes. Additionally, if another country were to lose a war with China, the defeated people were immediately inducted into China's lowest level, slavery.
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Written source: https://app.schoology.com/course/635664571/materials/gp/829895383