1. Chapter 20-2 Ancient China
The Han Dynasty

2. Main Ideas
Han dynasty government was largely based on the ideas of Confucius.
Han China supported and strengthened family life.
The Han made many achievements in art, literature, and learning.

3. The Rise of a New Dynasty
In 205 BC Liu Bang became the first emperor of the Han dynasty, which lasted for more than 400 years.
Liu Bang was the first common person to become emperor.
Liu Bang wanted to free people from harsh government policies.
Liu Bang changed the way that government worked.

4. Wudi Creates a New Government
In 140 BC Emperor Wudi took the throne.
He created a stronger government.
He made Confucianism China’s official government policy.

5. Confucianism
A philosophy based on the teachings of a man named Confucius.
It emphasizes the importance of ethics and moral values.

6. Han Government
Han government officials were expected to practice Confucianism.
Studying Confucianism could get a person a good job in China.
Wudi began a university to teach Confucian ideas.
The Han period was a time of great social change in China.

7. Han China supported and strengthened family life.
Based on the Confucian system, people were divided into four classes.
The classes only divided people into social rank. They did not indicate wealth or power.
People’s lifestyles varied according to wealth.
Confucian teachings about the family were honored during Wudi’s reign.

8. Social Classes Upper class Second class Third class Lowest class
Made up of the emperor, his court, and scholars who held government positions
Second class
The largest, was made up of peasants
Third class
Artisans, who produced items for daily life and some luxury goods
Lowest class
Merchants, because they did not actually produce anything, but merely bought and sold what others made

9. The Rich Lived in multilevel homes Owned large estates
Employed laborers to work the land
Hired private armies to defend their estates
Filled their homes with expensive decorations

10. The Poor
About 90 percent of the people living in Han China were peasants.
Worked long, tiring days working the land
Forced to work on building projects for the government in the winter
Wore plain clothing
Lived in small villages in small wood-framed houses with walls of mud or stamped earth

11. Confucian teachings about the family
Children were taught to respect their elders.
The father was the head of the family and had absolute power.
It was a woman’s duty to obey her husband, and children had to obey their father.

12. Confucianism and the government
Han officials believed that if the family was strong and people obeyed the father, then they would also obey the emperor.
The Han rewarded strong family ties and respect for elders.

13. Art and Literature Experts at figure painting
Painted realistic scenes from everyday life
Created new styles of verse, including the fu and shi styles
Produced important works of history
Sima Qian wrote a complete history of all the dynasties through the early Han.

14. Inventions and Advances
Invented paper and produced books
Built the sundial, a device that uses the position of shadows cast by the sun to tell the time of day
Designed a seismograph, a device that measures the strength of earthquakes
Practiced acupuncture, the practice of inserting fine needles through the skin at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain