7 3 Han Emperors in China Review Question

7. 3 Han Emperors in China Review Question: What was the silk road?

The Han Restore Unity in China n Troubled Empire • In the Qin Dynasty the peasants resent high taxes and harsh labor, and rebel.

The Han Restore Unity in China n Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty • Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power, and founds the Han Dynasty • The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B. C. and lasts about 400 years. • Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese people and culture • Liu Bang establishes centralized government— a central authority rules. • Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces punishments to keep people happy

Depiction of Emperor Liu Bang

The Han Restore Unity in China n The Empress Lü • Liu Bang dies in 195 B. C. ; wife Lü seizes control of empire • Empress Lü rules for her young son and outlives him. • There are palace plots and power plays occur throughout Han Dynasty

The Han Restore Unity in China n The Martial Emperor • Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi rules from 141 to 87 B. C. • “Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain tribes • Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, and as far south as what is now Vietnam

A Highly Structured Society n Emperor’s Role • Chinese believe their emperor has authority to rule from god. • Believe prosperity is the reward of good rule, and troubles reveal poor rule.

A Highly Structured Society n Structures of Han Government • Complex bureaucracy runs Han government • People pay taxes and supply labor and military service • Government uses peasant labor to carry out public projects

A Highly Structured Society n Confucianism, the Road to Success • Wudi’s government employs 130, 000; bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs • Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained through examinations. • Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge of Confucianism • Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds schools to train them • Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive schooling • Civil service system works well, continues unil 1912

Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture n Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life • Invention of paper in A. D. 105 helps spread education • Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow improve farming

Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture n Agriculture Versus Commerce • As population grows, farming regarded as important activity • Government allows monopolies—control by one group over key industries • Techniques for producing silk become state secret as profits increase

Han Unifies Chinese Culture n Bringing Different Peoples Under Chinese Rule • To unify empire, Chinese government encourages assimilation • Assimilation—integrating conquered peoples into Chinese culture • Writers encourage unity by recording Chinese history

An emperor translating classical texts from the history of the Chinese emperors.

Han Unifies Chinese Culture n Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and Scholars • Most women work in the home and on the farm • Some upper-class women are educated, run shops, practice medicine

The Fall of the Han and Their Return n The Rich Take Advantage of the Poor • Large landowners gain control of more and more land • Gap between rich and poor increases

The Fall of the Han and Their Return n Wang Mang Overthrows the Han • Economic problems and week emperors cause political instability • In A. D. 9, Wang Mang seizes power and stabilizes empire • Wang Mang is assassinated in A. D. 23; Han soon regain control

The Fall of the Han and Their Return n The Later Han Years • Peace is restored. The Later Han Dynasty lasts until A. D. 220