Han Dynasty Hans First Emperor Liu Bang 206

Han Dynasty

Han’s First Emperor • Liu Bang – 206 -195 B. C. E. • Led a revolt against Qin emperor • Abandoned the harsh laws • Reduced taxes • Increases agriculture

Social and Political Changes Social Hierarchy – Scholars – Farmers – Artisans – Merchants Political Change • Legalism still rules administration • Daoism focuses on nature and emotion • Confucian ideals influence the government

Confucianism • Recording history becomes important – Tradition and continuity prevailed over the notion of discounting the past, as legalism taught – Father and son appointed as court historians • Academy to teach Confucianism – 6 th emperor of the Han- Wu • Imperial conference of Confucian – Established principles for case law • Confucian scholars – Established principles of women’s conduct • Self sacrificing and serving others

Military Power and diplomacy • Military Power – Standing army 300, 0001, 000 – Military weapons • Crossbow • Fast horses used for cavalry • Diplomacy – Tributary system • Neighboring tribes would acknowledge Chinese dominance and offer tribute or gifts to the emperor • Gifts would be sent back to the ruler of the tribe group • Silk in the west led to expansion in that direction

Population and Migration • Population – Pop. decrease in North – Pop. growth in South • Northern population decreased by almost half- 44 million- 26 million • Southern population increased by 50%- 14 million to 22 million • Migration – Populations moving to the southern portion of the Han empire • Population percentage changed from 76% in north and 24% in south to 54% in the north 46% in the south

Economic Power • • Iron Working – Liquefied the iron, poured it into molds making cast iron and later steel Mining – Salt mining Paper production The compass Breast strap harness for horses New plow Hydraulic engineering Tapping of natural gas • New road leads to more trade • Military costs increase • Taxes increase • Nationalized private enterprise to gain the profits for the state

Han Declines • 8 year old emperor Ping takes throne in 1 ce – – Regent appointed to rule during the boys youth- Wang Mang Ping dies in 9 ce Wang Mang declares himself ruler Wang Mangs policies alienated every one • • • Fought against group in north Broke up large estates Prohibited land sale Fixed commodity prices Terminated Han nobility status – Yellow river flooded – Nobles and northern tribe invaded and overthrew Wang Mang

Fall of Han Dynasty • Peasant revolt – 184 C. E. – Hundreds of thousands of peasants revolt – Leader Zhang Jue- Daoist healer – Also called Yellow Turban Revolt • Color of headgear worn by rebels • Han Emperors struggle – There were so many within the court vying for power, the dynasty fell apart when the last empeor died.