The Han Dynasty
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Transcript The Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty
Chapter 7 Section 3
Today’s Discussion Questions (6-4)
When did the Han Dynasty rule? Who was
the founder?
How was the Han government based on
the ideas of Confucius?
List the social classes of the Han Dynasty.
Why did the family take on such
importance during the Han Dynasty?
What inventions/advances emerged during
the Han Dynasty?
1. 2200 BC: Xia Dynasty
founded
2. 7000BC: Farming
developed along the Chang
Jiang Valley
3. 1100sBC: Zhou
Dynasty begins
4. 481 BC: Civil War
spreads during the Warring
States Period
5. 221 BC: Shi Huangdi
unifies China, begins the
Qin Dynasty
6. 600s BC: First section
of the Great Wall was
built
7. 246 BC: Shi Huangdi
becomes emperor, a high
official rules in his name.
8. c206 BC: Qin Dynasty
collapses
9. 206 BC: Han Dynasty
begins
10. AD 220: Han Dynasty
falls
The Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 220)
Founded by Liu Bang
◦ A peasant who claimed to be the recipient of the
“Mandate of Heaven”
◦ The first common person to become emperor
◦ Earned loyalty/trust of the people and was well
liked by both soldiers and peasants
His rule was different from the strict legalism
of the Qin
◦
◦
◦
◦
Lowered taxes for farmers
Made punishments less severe
Gave large blocks of land to his supporters
Relied on educated officials to help him rule
New Government
140 BC: Emperor Wudi (Woo-dee) took the
throne
Wanted to create a strong central
government
◦ Took land from the lords
◦ Raised taxes
◦ Placed the supply grain under the control of the
government
Confucianism in the Han Dynasty
Made Confucianism China’s official
government philosophy
◦ Officials were expected to practice
Confucianism
◦ Began a university to teach Confucian ideas
Exams were given on Confucian teachings
◦ If a person passed, he could get a good
position in government. (Civil Service Exam)
◦ Exams were only open to people
recommended for government service
As a result, wealthy families continued to
control government.
Family Life & Social Classes
Class structure became more rigid during
the Han Dynasty
Based on the Confucian system, people
were divided into 4 classes.
Emperor, Court,
Government Officials
Peasants
Artisans
Merchants
Merchants were in the lowest class because
they did not produce anything.
They only bought and sold what others
made.
Believed government officials should not
handle or be concerned with money
Military was not an official class in the
Confucian system.
It did however offer men the chance to rise
in social status because the military was
considered part of the government.
Lives of the Rich & Poor
Classes only divided people into social rank.
Ranks did not indicate wealth or power.
For example, merchants were ranked lowest
but were usually the wealthiest.
The wealthy lived lavishly in expensive homes
while the poor lived in simple homes and
wore plain clothing.
Most people in the Han Dynasty were not
wealthy.
Out of the nearly 60 million, 90% of them
were peasants.
Emperor
Peasants
90%
Artisans
Merchants
Revival of the Family
Since Confucianism was the official
philosophy, teachings about family
were honored.
They believed in a concept called
“Filial Piety”
◦ Respect Elders
◦ Disobeying parents was a crime
◦ Father was head of the family & had absolute
power
Revival of the Family
Han officials believed that if a family was
strong and obeyed the father, then it
would obey the emperor.
Children were encouraged to serve their
parents.
They were also expected to honor dead
parents with ceremonies and offerings.
◦ This was called Ancestor Worship.
◦ This is still practiced in parts of China today.
Boys vs Girls
Chinese parents valued boys more highly
than girls.
This was because the sons carried the family
line and took care of their parents when
they were old.
On the other hand, daughters became part
of their husband’s family.
Some women gained power within their
families by influencing their son’s family.
An older widow could become the head of
the family.
Inventions & Advances
Inventions/Innovations Advances
◦ Paper
Figure Painting
◦ Sundial
Literature:
◦ Seismograph
Fu style poetry
◦ Acupuncture
Shi style poetry
◦ Waterwheel
History: Sima Qian
◦ Rudder
wrote the complete
◦ Drill Bits
histories of the early
dynasties
End
of Section 4
Section 5
Chapter 6
The Silk Road
An overland trade route that extended
from Western China to Southwest Asia.
Stretched over 4,000 miles
Silk was the most valuable trade product.
Trip was expensive and extremely
dangerous
The Silk Road
Changes in China
The Han Emperors after Han Wudi were
weak and foolish.
Central government lost respect and power
Dishonest officials and greedy aristocrats led
to unrest among farmers
Wars, rebellion, and plots against the
emperor led to the end of the Han Dynasty.
People turned to Buddhism to cope with the
fear and unrest.
As a result, Buddhism spread throughout
China.