Transcript The Han Dynasty of China: A Chinese Golden Age

The Han Dynasty of China:
A Chinese Golden Age
(206 BCE-220 CE)
Political
• China was ruled by
Dynasties
– Qin were first but lost the
mandate of Heaven
– Han came second
• Strong centralized
government
– Government was efficient
– All bureaucrats had to pass
difficult tests
Economic
• Agriculture was considered very important
• Trade was not respected but was still very
important
– Traded with Roman Empire VIA Silk Road
• Government had Monopolies on most
businesses (Silk, Mining, Alcohol)
Economic - Silk Road
Religious
• Two sets of ideas
influenced Chinese
religions
– Confucianism: Harmony
comes from respecting
elders and the Emperor
– Daoism: Happiness is
accepting life as it is
• Schools taught these
ideas to all people to
unify the lands of Han
China
Social
Intellectual
• Many Inventions
including:
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Seismograph
Paper
Water Wheel
Improved Plow
Collar Harness
Artistic
• Landscape and
portrait paintings were
advanced
• Han authors wrote
many essays, plays
and histories (which is
why we know so
much about them)
Early Chinese Dynasties
•Xia – 2205 B.C. – 1766 B.C. Post
Neolithic
•Shang - 1766 B.C. to 1172 B.C.
•Zhou - 1172 B.C. to 256 B.C.
•Qin - 221 B.C. to 206 B.C.
•Han - 201 B.C. to 221 A.D.
Chinese Civilizations:
Han Dynasty
Silk Road
Section 3
Han Emperors in China 206 BC–220
AD
Founded by Han Gaozu
Chinese Civilizations:
Han Dynasty (207 B.C. – 200 A.D.)
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Confucianism returns – Buddhism arrives
Golden age of China
Strict rules were modified
Confucian concepts were established
Imperial-style government developed by the Ch’in
dynasty was kept
• Han Dynasty was known for military prowess
• Creativity
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Paper was invented
Collar harness
Wheelbarrow
Great canals to link rivers
for trade and transportation
were created
– Art flourished
•Promoted Confucianism
•Est. Civil Service
•Began “Silk Road”
•“Pax Sinica” (Wudi)
•Built a University
•Technological Developments
Chinese Civilizations:
Han Dynasty
Silk Road
Trade Route to Roman
Empire
Han – Roman Empire Connection
Two Great Empires: Han China and
Rome
Han Dynasty – 202 B.C. to A.D. 220 Roman Empire – 27 BC to AD 476
• Empire replaced rival
kingdoms
• Centralized, bureaucratic
gov.
• Built roads and
defensive walls
• Conquered many
diverse peoples.
• Chinese – written
language
• Ongoing conflict –
nomads
• Fell, restored 618 by
• Empire replaced republic
• Centralized, bureaucratic
gov.
• Built roads and
defensive walls
• Conquered many
diverse peoples. – 3
continents
• Latin – did not replace
other written languages
• Ongoing conflict –
nomads
• Empire fell never