Ancient China Han Emperors in China Chapter Seven

Ancient China

Han Emperors in China Chapter Seven Section Three

China Objective Explain how the Chinese dynasties affected Chinese civilization, ethical systems, government, technology, commerce, and culture.

Notes

Setting the Stage Ø under Shi Huangdi, the Qin Dynasty had unified China Ø Shi Huangdi established a strong government by conquering the rival kings who ruled small states throughout China Ø after Shi Huangdi died in 210 B. C. his son proved to be a weak, ineffective leader Ø China’s government fell apart

Han Dynasty (400 Years) Ø Liu Bang fought and won a civil war thus beginning the Han Dynasty Ø Liu Bang lowered taxes Ø moved away from Legalism Ø won the support of the people Ø Emperors choose their favorite wives as the empress and one of her sons as the successor Ø usually caused distractions for the ruler and led to competition between families

Han Dynasty (400 years) Ø first set of enemies were the Xiongnu (shee*UNG*noo) = fierce nomads known for their deadly archery skills from horseback Ø raided China’s settle farmland Ø took hostages Ø Stole grain, livestock, other valuable items Ø Han emperors tried to buy off the Xiongu by sending them thousands of pound of silk, rice, alcohol, and money Ø Xiongu accepted these gifts and continued their raids

Han Dynasty (400 years) Ø bribes were making the Xiongnu stronger Ø Wudi sent 100, 000 soldiers to fight them and made allies of their enemies Ø conquered the largest territory of all the dynasties (Manchuria, Korea, Vietnam) Ø By the end of Wudi’s reign, the empire had expanded nearly to the bounds of present-day China

A Highly Structured Society Ø Emperor was key to prosperity or disasters Ø Emperor did not rule alone (government officials) Ø civil service jobs came through an examination Ø knowledge of Confucianism = methods of testing

A Highly Structured Society Ø 167 B. C. Imperial Edict = agriculture the most important and honored occupation “Agriculture is the foundation of the world. No duty is greater. Now if [anyone] personally follows this pursuit diligently, he has yet [to pay] the impositions of the land tax on produce…Let there be abolished the land tax and the tax on produce levied upon the cultivated fields” -- Ban Gu and Ban Zhao in History of the Former Han Dynasty

Fall of the Han Dynasty Ø Economic imbalance between the rich and poor caused by local customs: Ø land divided up amongst family upon death farm sizes decreased and so did profit Ø wealthy farmers paid no taxes Ø Wang Mang overthrows the Hans ending the First Han Dynasty Ø printed more $$$ to help pay for country’s debt Ø established granaries to feed poor Ø took land from the wealthy and gave to the poor who lost their farms Ø landowners furious Ø merchants raised prices because there was more $$$ in circulation (inflation) Ø 11 A. D. = massive flood killed millions

Rise of the Han Dynasty (Again) Han Dynasty reestablished Ø 2 nd Ø attempted to regain trading posts along Silk Road Ø became financial prosperous Ø internal weaknesses continued (same economic weakness and political issues) Ø by 220 A. D. - Han Dynasty splits into three rival kingdoms Ø The Han Dynasty’s rule lasted over 400 years and the Chinese people today call themsleves “the people of the Han”

Miscellaneous Information Ø the civilization that was vulnerable to outside invasion because of their geography was the Sumer / Mesopotamia Ø Egypt = Nile River India = Ganges and Indus Rivers Sumer = Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Han Dynasty = Yellow Sea

Essential Question Explain why Wudi was one of China’s most significant rulers. Write three complete sentences in the summary location on your note sheet

Guided Reading Answers

1. List the two powerful leaders that emerged after a civil war. a. Xiang Yu (shee*ANG yoo) b. Liu Bang (LEE*oo bahng) 2. In 202 B. C. the final battle was fought between the two powerful leaders. What was the outcome? > Liu Bang won and declared himself the first emperor of the Han Dynasty

3. The Han Dynasty, which ruled China form more than 400 years, is divided into two periods. 4. The Former Han ruled for about two centuries until A. D. 9 5. The Later Hun ruled for almost another two centuries. 6. What was Liu Bang’s first goal? > was to destroy the rival kings’ power 7. Define centralized government: > a government in which power is concentrated in central authority to which local governments are subject

8. When Liu Bang died in 195 B. C. , who really became emperor? > his mother – Empress Lu 9. Liu Bang’s great-grandson took the throne and continued Liu Bang’s centralizing policies. 10. Wudi, who reigned from 141 B. C. to 87 B. C. , held the throne longer than any other Han emperor.

11. Why is Wudi called the “Martial Emperor”? > he adopted the policy of expanding the Chinese empire through war

12. List the structure of Chinese society under the Han Dynasty. A. Emperor B. King and Governor C. State Officials and Nobles and Scholars D. Peasants E. Artisans and Merchants F. Solders Very Bottom = Slaves 13. The Chinese believed their emperor to have divine authority, they accepted his exercise of power. He was the link between heaven and earth. 14. The Chinese emperor relied on a complex bureaucracy to help him rule.

15. Define civil service: the administrative departments of a government – especially those in which employees are hired on the basis of their scores on examinations

16. List the advances in technology that influenced all aspects of Chinese life. a. paper invented in 105 A. D. b. collar harness for horses c. perfected a plow = two blades d. improved iron tools, invented the wheelbarrow, used water mills to grind grains 17. What was the most important and honored occupation? Agriculture 18. List the established monopolies. a. mining of salt b. forging of iron c. minting of coins d. brewing of alcohol

19. Spurred by the worldwide demand for silk, Chinese commerce expanded along the Silk Roads. 20. Define assimilation: the adoption of a conqueror's culture by a conquered people

21. List the several writers who helped to unify Chinese culture by recording China’s history. Name Sima Qian (SU*MAH chee*Yehn) Ban Biao (BAHN bee*OW) Ban Gu (bahn goo) = sone Ban Zhao (bahn jow) = daughter Lived Years Name of Book and What it Entailed * Records of the Grand Historian 145 B. C. to 85 B. C. * compiling a history of China = ancient to Wudi 3 A. D. to 54 A. D * History of the Former Han Dynasty * Lessons for Women * called upon women to be humble and obedient, but also industrious

22. What was one of the main problems the Han emperors faced? > economic imbalance caused by customs that allowed the rich to gain more wealth at the expense of the poor 23. What was the difference between poor farmers and rich farmers? > poor farmers inherited smaller plots / hard time raising enough food to sell or feed the family / went into debt / borrowed money from large land owners who charged high interest / couldn’t pay lost the land > rich farmers not required to pay taxes / increased land holdings = tax decrease

24. Wang Mang, a Confucian scholar and member of the court, took the imperial title for himself and overthrew the Han, thus ending the first half of the Han Dynasty.

China Objective Explain how the Chinese dynasties affected Chinese civilization, ethical systems, government, technology, commerce, and culture.