Han Dynasty ChinaHan Dynasty China

The Golden AgeThe Golden Age

The Han Restore UnityThe Han Restore Unity

China was in civil warChina was in civil war In 202 CE Liu Bang, a military In 202 CE Liu Bang, a military

general declared himself emperorgeneral declared himself emperor centralized governmentcentralized government lowered taxeslowered taxes eased punishmentseased punishments

Han dynasty rules China for over Han dynasty rules China for over 400 years400 years

Liu BangLiu Bang

Empress LEmpress LÜÜ

Liu Bang’s son was a weak leader, Liu Bang’s son was a weak leader, mom seized powermom seized power

Retained power by naming infants as Retained power by naming infants as emperoremperor

When the empress died, Liu Bang’s When the empress died, Liu Bang’s supporters executed her relativessupporters executed her relatives

Palace women and families competed Palace women and families competed fiercely for emperor’s attentionfiercely for emperor’s attention

Wudi the Martial EmperorWudi the Martial Emperor

Expanded the empire through warExpanded the empire through war Fought a nomadic tribe in the north Fought a nomadic tribe in the north

(had previously been bribed)(had previously been bribed) Colonized areas to the northeast: Colonized areas to the northeast:

Manchuria and KoreaManchuria and Korea Sent armies south: modern VietnamSent armies south: modern Vietnam

Highly Structured Highly Structured GovernmentGovernment

Emperor: SemidivineEmperor: Semidivine Complex bureaucracy (people and procedures Complex bureaucracy (people and procedures

that do not enact law but carry it outthat do not enact law but carry it out collected taxes, labor, built roads, canals, collected taxes, labor, built roads, canals,

irrigationirrigation 18 different ranks of civil service18 different ranks of civil service

Filled government posts with Confucian Filled government posts with Confucian scholarsscholars

Wudi set up a Confucian school: history, law, Wudi set up a Confucian school: history, law, literatureliterature

In theory, anyone could take the exams, but in In theory, anyone could take the exams, but in reality…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 CultureTechnology and Culture

Inventions: paper, horse collar, Inventions: paper, horse collar, wheelbarrow, watermills, and perfected wheelbarrow, watermills, and perfected the plowthe plow

Society: expansion introduced new Society: expansion introduced new cultural itemscultural items Assimilation: encouraged farmers to move Assimilation: encouraged farmers to move

and marryand marry Recorded Chinese historyRecorded Chinese history

CommerceCommerce

Trade: Big population=lots of Trade: Big population=lots of farmingfarming Government monopolies on salt, iron, Government monopolies on salt, iron,

coins, and alcoholcoins, and alcohol Silk production was a guarded secretSilk production was a guarded secret Silk roadsSilk roads

The great Silk Roads

Rebellion and RestorationRebellion and Restoration

Wealth disparity: small farmers went Wealth disparity: small farmers went into debt and were forced to sell.into debt and were forced to sell.

Large farm owners didn’t have to pay Large farm owners didn’t have to pay taxestaxes

Political instability: plots and rivalries Political instability: plots and rivalries within the court slowed governmentwithin the court slowed government

Wang Mang overthrew the government Wang Mang overthrew the government and redistributed land to restore peaceand redistributed land to restore peace