ANCIENT CHINA SECTION 4 THE HAN DYNASTY HAN

  • Slides: 6
Download presentation
ANCIENT CHINA SECTION 4: THE HAN DYNASTY

ANCIENT CHINA SECTION 4: THE HAN DYNASTY

HAN DYNASTY GOVERNMENT • Liu Bang became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty

HAN DYNASTY GOVERNMENT • Liu Bang became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty • Bang was a peasant, but was able to become emperor because of the mandate of heaven • Was the first common person to become emperor • He was well liked by both soldiers and peasants – this helped him to maintain control • Wanted to free people of hard government policies • Bang: lowered taxes for farmers, made punishments less severe, gave large blocks of land to his supporters, set up a government structure that built on the foundation begun by the Qin, and relied on educated officials to help him rule

 • Emperor Wudi • Wanted to create a strong central government • Wudi:

• Emperor Wudi • Wanted to create a strong central government • Wudi: took land from the lords, raised taxes, and placed the supply of grain under the control of the government • Confucianism became China’s official government philosophy • • Wudi began a university to teach Confucian ideas Wealthy or influential families continued to control the government

FAMILY LIFE • Class structure became more rigid – family became important within Chinese

FAMILY LIFE • Class structure became more rigid – family became important within Chinese society once more • Based on Confucian system, divided into 4 classes: 1. Upper class – emperor, his court, and scholars who held government positions 2. Second class (the largest) – peasants 3. Artisans – these people produced items for daily life and some luxury goods 4. Merchants – occupied the lowest class because they did not produce anything; they only bought and sold goods • The military was not an official class in the Confucian system • Classes did not indicate wealth or power

 • Confucian teachings about the family were honored: • Disobeying one’s parents was

• Confucian teachings about the family were honored: • Disobeying one’s parents was a crime • Within the family, the father had absolute power • Wives and children had to obey their husbands and fathers • Chinese parents valued boys more highly than girls • Sons carried on the family line and took care of their parents when they were old

HAN ACHIEVEMENTS • Art and literature: • Became experts at figure painting – a

HAN ACHIEVEMENTS • Art and literature: • Became experts at figure painting – a style of painting that includes portraits of people that often showed religious figures and Confucian scholars • Became known for their poetry – the fu style combined prose and poetry to create long works of literature; the shi style featured short lines of verse that could be sung • Inventions and advances: • Paper • Sundial – uses the position of shadows cast by the sun to tell the time of day • Seismograph – is a device that measures the strength of an earthquake • Acupuncture – the practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain