Transcript 7-3-Han-Emperors-in-China

7-3
“HAN EMPERORS IN CHINA”
THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA
Troubled Empire
In the Qin
Dynasty the
peasants resent
high taxes and
harsh labor, and
rebel.
THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA
Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty
 Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power, and
founds the Han Dynasty
 The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B.C. and lasts
about 400 years.
 Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese people
and culture
 Liu Bang establishes centralized government—a
central authority rules.
 Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces punishments to
keep people happy
DEPICTION OF EMPEROR LIU BANG
THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA
The Empress Lü
Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü seizes
control of empire
Empress Lü rules for her young son and
outlives him.
There are palace plots and power plays
occur throughout Han Dynasty
THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA
The Martial Emperor
Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi
rules from 141 to 87 B.C.
“Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats
Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain
tribes
Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, and as
far south as what is now Vietnam
A HIGHLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY
Emperor’s Role
Chinese believe their emperor has
authority to rule from god.
Believe prosperity is the reward of good
rule, and troubles reveal poor rule.
A HIGHLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY
Structures of Han Government
Complex bureaucracy runs Han
government
People pay taxes and supply labor and
military service
Government uses peasant labor to carry
out public projects
A HIGHLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY
Confucianism, the Road to Success
Wudi’s government employs 130,000;
bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs
Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained
through examinations.
Job applicants begin to be tested on
knowledge of Confucianism
Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds schools
to train them
Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive
schooling
Civil service system works well, continues until
1912
HAN TECHNOLOGY, COMMERCE, AND
CULTURE
Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life
Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps
spread education
Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow
improve farming
HAN TECHNOLOGY, COMMERCE, AND
CULTURE
Agriculture Versus Commerce
As population grows, farming regarded
as important activity
Government allows monopolies—control
by one group over key industries
Techniques for producing silk become
state secret as profits increase
HAN UNIFIES CHINESE CULTURE
Bringing Different Peoples Under Chinese
Rule
To unify empire, Chinese government
encourages assimilation
Assimilation—integrating conquered
peoples into Chinese culture
Writers encourage unity by recording
Chinese history
An emperor translating classical
texts from the history of the
Chinese emperors.
HAN UNIFIES CHINESE CULTURE
Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and
Scholars
Most women work in the home and on
the farm
Some upper-class women are educated,
run shops, practice medicine
THE FALL OF THE HAN AND THEIR
RETURN
The Rich Take Advantage of the Poor
Large landowners gain control of more
and more land
Gap between rich and poor increases
THE FALL OF THE HAN AND THEIR
RETURN
Wang Mang Overthrows the Han
Economic problems and weak emperors
cause political instability
In A.D. 9, Wang Mang seizes power and
stabilizes empire
Wang Mang is assassinated in A.D. 23;
Han soon regain control
THE FALL OF THE HAN AND THEIR
RETURN
The Later Han Years
Peace is restored. The Later Han
Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220