Transcript The Han Dynasty - Rutherford County Schools

The Han Dynasty
A Time of Great Achievement
From Chaos and Disunity to Stability
and Great Works

With the fall of the Qin Dynasty, China was plunged into
chaos and fighting. In time, a farmer-turned soldier, Liu
Bang, emerged the victor and was proclaimed emperor. He
and his descendants ruled the powerful Han dynasty for
more than 400 years.

The peace initiated by Liu-Bang brought the stability
necessary for the Chinese culture to thrive and grow.

Liu-Bang followed the teachings of Confucius and promoted
them in his empire, which set a pattern that continues to the
present day. However, he was tolerant of other philosophies,
and, as a result, literature and education flourished under his
reign.

After his death in 195 BCE, his successors continued his
policies.
Great Works: Government and
Education

Between 141- 87 BCE, the greatest of the Han
emperors, Han Wudi (also known as Han Wu the
Great,) took steps to improve China’s government.

Instead of choosing family members and loyal
aristocrats to help him run the government, Han Wudi
recruited dedicated and talented people for
government jobs, and created schools to prepare them.

Scholars and officials recommended qualified
candidates; these candidates took long, difficult written
examinations. Candidates with the highest scores got
the jobs of government officials or teachers and were
greatly respected in society because they were well
educated.

Unfortunately, the system favored the rich because
only they could afford to educate their sons for the
difficult tests.
From c. A.D. 45- A.D. 116, a
woman named Ban Zhao
served as the imperial
historian.
She wrote poems, essays, and
historical pieces. One work is a
guide for women that explains
how women should behave
and encourages education for
females.
Although the Chinese followed
her teachings for hundreds of
years, most of her thoughts on
education were ignored.
Great Works: Inventions

Cast-iron plow could break up soil more
quickly and easily than wooden plow.

Waterwheel ground more grain.

Rudder and a new way to move a ship’s
sails allowed the Chinese to travel farther
and against the wind.
Paper was made out of hemp, rag pulp
or a mixture and was used at first for
wrapping.
* It was found to be ideal for writing.
* It was used instead of bamboo strips
or silk, and was traded with the west.
Great Works: Medicine
Doctors discovered certain foods prevented disease.
They learned to use herbs to treat illnesses.
Highly skilled and trained doctors used acupuncture- they pierced
patient’s skin at certain points with thin needles to relieve pain.
The Silk Road
coming soon…..
Expansion and a New Problem

During the Han rule, China’s population grew to
about 60 million.

Farmers needed to provide more food. This
caused a new problem.

Land was divided among a farmer’s sons when
he died. After many generations of this, the
amount of land farmed by a family became
smaller and smaller. By the middle of the Han
Dynasty, most farmers did not have enough land
to grow enough food to feed their families. They
were forced to sell their small plots of land and
become tenant farmers. Tenant farmers farm for
someone else. They must turn over most of what
they raise to the land owner, and keep only a
small portion for themselves. Consequently,
tenant farmers were very poor. Those who could
afford to keep their land became wealthier.
Expansion and Peace
~ The Chinese population continued
to grow as the Han Empire
conquered more territory.
~ Armies conquered lands to the
north, including Korea. They moved
south and west as far as northern
India. When Han Wudi’s soldiers
pushed back the Xiongnu, China had
peace for almost 150 years.
The Decline of the Han Empire

Much time passed, and many of the
later Han emperors were weak and
dishonest.

Corrupt officials and greedy
aristocrats took over more of the
land.

People began to rise up and rebel.

By A.D. 220, civil war divided China

For the next 400 years, China
remained divided into many small
kingdoms.
Han Dynasty c. A.D.100
Do you remember?

1. Who founded the Han Dynasty?

2. What was the reason Han Wudi began schools?

3. Which philosophy became more prominent under Han rule?

4. What was an effect of the long period of peace during the Han Dynasty?

5. What caused many farmers to begin tenant farming?

6. What led to the downfall of the Han Dynasty?