1. Han Dynasty - China
202 BC – 220 AD

2. The Han Restore Unity in China
Troubled Empire
In the Qin Dynasty the peasants resent high taxes and harsh labor, and rebel
Qin Emperor loses Mandate of Heaven, overthrown

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

4. Depiction of Emperor Liu Bang

5. The Han Restore Unity in China
The Martial Emperor
Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi rules from 141 to 87 B.C.
“Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats nomads and mountain tribes
Colonizes from Korea to Vietnam

6. Han Society Family Life Filial Piety
Confucianism shaped Chinese society
Confucius taught that family was central to well-being of the state
Han officials believed dutiful children made respectful subjects
Filial Piety
Children served parents as they aged, honored dead at household shrines
Fathers – Head of Family
Obedience, devotion to parents/grandparents
Some men even received government jobs because of respect shown parents

7. A Highly Structured Society
Confucianism, the Road to Success
Government employed 130,000; bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs
Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained through examinations.
Job applicants tested on knowledge of Confucianism
Emperors favor Confucian scholars, schools built to train them
Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive schooling

8. A Highly Structured Society
Peasant Class
Approx. 90% of people in China were peasants
54 mil. of 60 million
Lived in small villages in simple houses, labored long hours in fields, worked on government projects in winter
High taxes, bad weather forced them into debt
Many had to sell lands, become laborers for wealthy

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

10. A Highly Structured Society
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

12. Han Technology and Commerce
Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life
Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps spread education
Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow improve farming
Silk
Fabric beautiful, soft, strong
Clothing costly, in high demand

14. Han Technology and Commerce
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
Revealing secret punishable by death

15. The Silk Roads
Merchants traveling between China, Central Asia used overland routes called the Silk Roads
This network of routes eventually stretched from China over 4,000 miles and linked China to India, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire

16. The Silk Roads

17. The Silk Roads Travelers on Silk Roads crossed rugged, barren terrain
For protection, traveled in huge camel caravans
Most merchants traveled only part of way
Traded for goods from distant lands
Most goods traded were small, valuable, highly profitable luxury items

18. Effects of Silk Road Trade
Growth of trade increased prosperity
Demand for Chinese goods led to increased trade with west
Blood-sweating horses
To obtain them, Emperor conquered more land

19. Effects of Silk Road Trade
Traders also carried ideas over the Silk Roads
Buddhism spread to China from India
Example of cultural diffusion
Spread of ideas from one culture to another

20. Han Unifies Chinese Culture
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

21. The Fall of the Han and Their Return
The Rich Take Advantage of the Poor
Large landowners gain control of more and more land
Gap between rich and poor increases
Buddhism gained popularity
Buddhism’s message of rebirth offered hope
Han government became less stable, violence increased

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

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