Download The Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty
By: Michelle Maseeh, Elizabeth West, Emily Goldberg,
Kayla Mejia, Cathy Leyva, and Carly Gray
Origins
The Han Dynasty succeeded the Qin Dynasty which only lasted from 221- 207 BCE.
In 202 BCE Emperor Gaozu, first called Liu Bang, defeated the last rebellion against
him and became the first Han emperor.
Gaozu had been king of Han since 206 BCE, this is the official date of the start of the
Han Dynasty.
The Han Dynasty was a time of peace for the Chinese people.
Adopted a Confucian ideology that was so successful the Han lasted longer than
any other Chinese empire.
Sometimes divided into two sections, the Qian (former) Han (206 BCE -25 CE) and the
Government structure and legal systems
Before the Han dynasty started the current government was tyrannical and legalist.
At the start of the Han Dynasty they kept the legalist point of view and blended in
confucianism.
Officials would often get beheaded by rulers who abused their power.
The Chinese people flourished during the Han dynasty.
Created a law system that had specific punishments.
They believed that government should be run by educated men.
This went as an example of how confucianism played a big role in the Han
Major Religious Beliefs
Taoism was considered to be the main Han Dynasty religion and Taoism was also
founded during this dynasty.
Taoism characterized by the belief for opposites, such as, “there would be no love
without hate”
Buddhism also became major religion during Han Dynasty after its arrival at around
1st century CE.
believed to have been brought by travelers who took the Silk Road from North
India
During Han Dynasty that China first embraced Confucianism
Major Religious Beliefs
Mount
Tai
Ancestor worship was in practice during the Han Dynasty
Emperor worshipped his ancestors through costly burials, and families all
throughout China made ritual sacrifices to not only deities and spirits but also
to their ancestors.
Emperor was expected to respect and admire Heaven and Earth, the Great Unity
and the deities and spirits of the seasons.
Tradition for the emperor to climb Mount Tai to give offerings to Heaven and
Earth
Many religions and beliefs during the Han Dynasty and each of them helped shape
the successful dynasty.
Major Cities
Chang’an :
Became center of military and culture.
Also was the center of politics and economics in China around 2CE.
Held the imperial capital in (Eastern province).
All major roads meet in Chang’an.
Marked the beginning of the Silk Road.
Population was around 250,000.
Luoyang :
Chang’an was soon attacked and left in ruins.
Economy:
● The economy was defined by population growth, industry growth, and
the growth of trade. New inventions and growth of art also helped to
increase the amount of trade during this time.
● The travels of Zhang Qian, a Chinese official and diplomat opened up
China's relations with many different Asian territories for the first time.
○ Traded with Western Regions
Economy:
Government nationalized salt and iron
industries which restricted
industrialist powers. Because of
this, peasants who were employed
in salt and iron workshops were
able to go back to farming which
increased the agriculture tax
revenue.The development of better
iron tools made farming more
efficient.
● The silk road flourished during the
Han Dynasty and allowed trade
between China and india. The
greatest contribution the the Han
Dynasty's economy was the silk
trade. The invention of the loom
allowed silk to be produced which
was traded to the western people
through the silk road.
Spread of the Han Empire...
Expansion of power:
Expansion of land:
The power of the Han Dynasty was greatly influenced through
economics.
The Silk Roads were a great way for the Han Empire to expand into
the western world.
The Silk Roads allowed for a greater expansion of the economy
Land was also gained through military campaigns while expanding
for land south of the Han Dynasty.
Han Dynasty was known for the production of silk and created a
great demand for it, especially being one of the only producers.
Silk was greatly sought after due to its many different uses and it
was a sign of wealth in many different areas.
The Han Dynasty had a lot of power over countries due to the high
demand
The trade of silk allowed for a monopoly in the Han Dynasty
Lands that were expanded upon south of the Han Dynasty were
Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Japan.
The expansion into the countries (listed above) began in the Qin
Dynasty and continued on into the times of the Han Dynasty
Reasons for Collapse
Starting in the 180s CE emperors had grown disinterested and lived only for
amusement.
Economically Han could not collect enough taxes to fund the government and army.
Externally Han was faced with the threat of nomadic people.
One of the biggest factors was the Sino-Xiongu Wars, which went on for more than
2 centuries. The Han eventually defeated the Xiongu however the victory ruined
the Han government.
The end of the Han Dynasty led to a very chaotic era in China.
Works Cited
Origins:
"Han Dynasty." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.
Religion:
"The Chinese Han Dynasty Religion | Prominent Religious Beliefs." Totally History Han Dynasty Religion Comments. Web. 6 Nov.
2015.
"Han Dynasty Religion." - Facts about Han Dynasty Spiritual Beliefs. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Spread of the Empire:
"Han Dynasty — Cultural Heights." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"Expansion of China Under The Han Dynasty." THE ANCIENT CHINA UNDER HAN DYNASTY. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
Works Cited
Government and legal systems:
"Han Dynasty." Han Dynasty. Web. 12 Nov. 2015
4000 BCE-1000 CE: The Early Chinese Empire: The Qin and the Han | Central Themes and Key Points | Asia for Educators | Columbia
University." 4000 BCE-1000 CE: The Early Chinese Empire: The Qin and the Han | Central Themes and Key Points | Asia for
Educators | Columbia University. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Reasons for Collapse:
"What Brought Down the Great Han Dynasty in China?" About.com Education. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
Economy:
"Han Dynasty Economy." - Facts about Han Dynasty Trade & Production. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2015.
"The Chinese Han Dynasty Economy & Economic Structures." Totally History Han Dynasty Economy Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov.
2015.
Works Cited
Major Cities:
"Luoyang". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2015”
“Victor Cunrui Xiong, Sui-Tang Chang'an: A Study in the Urban History of Medieval China (Ann Arbor: Center for Chinese Studies,
The University of Michigan, 2000).”