Han Dynasty China The Golden Age The Han

The Han Restore Unity § China was in civil war § In 202 CE

Empress LÜ § Liu Bang’s son was a weak leader, mom seized power §

Wudi the Martial Emperor § Expanded the empire through war § Fought a nomadic

Highly Structured Government § Emperor: Semidivine § Complex bureaucracy (people and procedures that do

Jade as a heavenly stone was used to demonstrate the nobility's relationship with the

Technology and Culture § Inventions: paper, horse collar, wheelbarrow, watermills, and perfected the plow

Commerce § Trade: Big population=lots of farming § Government monopolies on salt, iron, coins,

Rebellion and Restoration § Wealth disparity: small farmers went into debt and were forced

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Han Dynasty China The Golden Age

The Han Restore Unity § China was in civil war § In 202 CE Liu Bang, a military general declared himself emperor § centralized government § lowered taxes § eased punishments § Han dynasty rules China for over 400 years

Liu Bang

Empress LÜ § Liu Bang’s son was a weak leader, mom seized power § Retained power by naming infants as emperor § When the empress died, Liu Bang’s supporters executed her relatives § Palace women and families competed fiercely for emperor’s attention

Wudi the Martial Emperor § Expanded the empire through war § Fought a nomadic tribe in the north (had previously been bribed) § Colonized areas to the northeast: Manchuria and Korea § Sent armies south: modern Vietnam

Highly Structured Government § Emperor: Semidivine § Complex bureaucracy (people and procedures that do not enact law but carry it out § collected taxes, labor, built roads, canals, irrigation § 18 different ranks of civil service § Filled government posts with Confucian scholars § Wudi set up a Confucian school: history, law, literature § In theory, anyone could take the exams, but in reality…

Jade as a heavenly stone was used to demonstrate the nobility's relationship with the heaven during life and after death. The dead of the Han dynasty wear clothes made of jade like this princess.

Technology and Culture § Inventions: paper, horse collar, wheelbarrow, watermills, and perfected the plow § Society: expansion introduced new cultural items § Assimilation: encouraged farmers to move and marry § Recorded Chinese history

Commerce § Trade: Big population=lots of farming § Government monopolies on salt, iron, coins, and alcohol § Silk production was a guarded secret § Silk roads

The great Silk Roads

Rebellion and Restoration § Wealth disparity: small farmers went into debt and were forced to sell. § Large farm owners didn’t have to pay taxes § Political instability: plots and rivalries within the court slowed government § Wang Mang overthrew the government and redistributed land to restore peace