Ancient ChinaA Time of Achievement – Lesson 4

The Han Dynasty

206 BC Qin fell – civil war followedPeasants, nobles, generals,

officials all fought for power

In Han state, Liu Bang claimed title King of Han

202 BC -Liu Bang’s army gained control of Qin lands

Liu Bang declared himself emperor – named Han Gaozu = “High Ancestor”

The Han Dynasty

Gaozu’s rule begins Han Dynasty

Lasted more than 400 years (202 BC -AD 220)

Capital city – Chang’an (Xian)

Peasants liked Gaozu because came from family of poor farmers – he understood

G gave land and reduced taxes

The Han Dynasty

Han emperors continued to unite China

Believed in strong government and all-powerful leader; HOWEVER, followed some teaching of Confucius(mixed Legalism and Confucianism)

Less rules that Shi Huangdi – depended on people to obey rulers (filial piety concept of Confucius)

Developed imperial bureaucratic state – lasted 2000 years

Wu Di and Civil Service

141 BC – Wu Di was emperor “Warlike Emperor”

Formed large armies to protect and expand empire

Troops sent north to drive back invaders

By 101 BC, empire included western China, Korea ancient Korea and Vietnam

To pay for armies, new taxes set

Wu Di and Civil Service

Wu Di respected ideas of Confucius

Started university to teach Confucian ideas

Made Confucianism official religion

Founded civil service = part of bureaucracy that does day-to-day running of government

Civil servants picked based on ability – had to pass written test.

Wu Di and Civil Service

Civil Service benefits –• educated people in government jobs• those who did well raised their social

status• Education became important in

China

Cultural Achievements

200 BC – begins Golden Age• Success in war• Economic success• Education

Art flourished• Major stone sculptures• Skilled – painting land and people• Silk weaving• Pottery

Cultural Achievements

Science• Improved paper making• First seismograph (to show location

and strength of earthquakes)• Sundials and water clocks

Literature• Poetry – still read today• Sima Qian – wrote 1st history of

China

Silk Road and Trade

139 BC Wu Di sent ambassador (government representative) to western Asia to find people to help fight invaders

Learned about western Asia – eventually Wu Di controlled lands and trade routes

Most-traveled trade routes became known as Silk Road• 4000 miles from Han capital to

Mediterranean Sea• (now China connected to Europe)

Silk Road and Trade

Chinese traders• West with silk – traded for horses,

glass, spices, fruits, musical instruments

• Those who got Chinese items traded those for other things, SO items traveled even farther

Ideas also spread (cultural diffusion)• Buddhism came north to China from

India

Big Ideas

2. Civil Service developed and education gained importance.

3. With trade, China became less isolated from the rest of the world.

1. Han Dynasty combined Legalism and Confucianism.