Download The Xiongnu

The Xiongnu
For many years before the Han Dynasty, China’s relations with the outside world
involved both trade and military conflict. There was a high demand for Chinese
foods such as silk and Jacquerware. Some non-Chinese groups that did not have
items to trade found that they could acquire Chinese goods by force and would
occasionally conduct raids against the Chinese to obtain these goods. These raids
had been a problem for the Chinese since the Shang Dynasty (1600-1050 BCE)
but became increasingly worse by the middle of the Zhou Dynasty (1050-256
BCE).
Xiongnu (a nomadic people form Central Asia who lived in north and northwest
China; their relations with China were complicated and took the form of
marriage treaties, trade agreements, tribute, and wars; they are also known as the
Huns) was the name for various nomadic tribal groups who lived in Central Asia.
They raised sheep, goats, camels, and horses, moving their camps north in the
summer and south in the winter. They were also skilled horsemen and hunters
and raided the settled farms and town of northern China.
At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, Han rulers did not want to involve China
in expensive and dangerous wars against the Xiongnu. Instead, they tried to
appease the Xiongnu with gifts of silk, rice, and even cash. Chinese princesses
were given as brides to Xiongnu rulers in an effort to improve relations.
However, the Xiongnu continued to raid China’s borders. In 166 BCE an army
of 140,000 Xiongnu raided deep into China, reaching a point less than 100 miles
from the capital. Many Chinese statesmen felt that Han policies to appease the
Xiongnu were not only cowardly and humiliating, but unsuccessful as well.
Wudi, or “Emperor Wu”, who ruled the Han from 141 to 87 BCE decided to
pursue a more aggressive policy agasint the Xiongnu. Beginning in 133 BCE,
hundreds of thousands of Han soldiers were sent into Xiongnu territory. These
wards against the Xiongnu were very expensive, coasting China a great number
of men, horses, and supplies. However, the Chinese dealt substantial defeats to
the Xiongnu in 121 and 119 BCE, causing them to retreat north beyond the
Gobi Desert. By 100 BCE, the Han were in control of almost every area within
the boundaries of what is China today.