7.3 Han Emperors in China7.3 Han Emperors in China

The Han Restore Unity in ChinaThe Han Restore Unity in China

Troubled EmpireTroubled Empire• In the Qin In the Qin

Dynasty the Dynasty the peasants resent peasants resent high taxes and high taxes and harsh labor, and harsh labor, and rebel.rebel.

The Han Restore Unity in ChinaThe Han Restore Unity in China

Liu Bang Founds the Han DynastyLiu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty• Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power, Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power,

and founds the Han Dynastyand founds the Han Dynasty• The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B.C. and The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B.C. and

lasts about 400 years.lasts about 400 years.• Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese

people and culturepeople and culture• Liu Bang establishes centralized government—Liu Bang establishes centralized government—

a central authority rules.a central authority rules.• Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces

punishments to keep people happypunishments to keep people happy

Depiction of Emperor Liu BangDepiction of Emperor Liu Bang

The Han Restore Unity in ChinaThe Han Restore Unity in China The Empress LüThe Empress Lü

• Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü seizes control of empireseizes control of empire

• Empress Lü rules for her young son Empress Lü rules for her young son and outlives him.and outlives him.

• There are palace plots and power There are palace plots and power plays occur throughout Han plays occur throughout Han DynastyDynasty

The Han Restore Unity in ChinaThe Han Restore Unity in China The Martial EmperorThe Martial Emperor

• Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi rules from 141 to 87 B.C.rules from 141 to 87 B.C.

• ““Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain tribestribes

• Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, and as far south as what is now and as far south as what is now VietnamVietnam

A Highly Structured SocietyA Highly Structured Society Emperor’s RoleEmperor’s Role

• Chinese believe their emperor has Chinese believe their emperor has authority to rule from god.authority to rule from god.

• Believe prosperity is the reward of good Believe prosperity is the reward of good rule, and troubles reveal poor rule.rule, and troubles reveal poor rule.

A Highly Structured SocietyA Highly Structured Society

Structures of Han GovernmentStructures of Han Government• Complex bureaucracy runs Han Complex bureaucracy runs Han

governmentgovernment• People pay taxes and supply labor and People pay taxes and supply labor and

military servicemilitary service• Government uses peasant labor to carry Government uses peasant labor to carry

out public projectsout public projects

A Highly Structured SocietyA Highly Structured Society Confucianism, the Road to SuccessConfucianism, the Road to Success

• Wudi’s government employs 130,000; Wudi’s government employs 130,000; bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobsbureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs

• Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained through examinations.through examinations.

• Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge of Confucianismof Confucianism

• Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds schools Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds schools to train themto train them

• Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive schoolingschooling

• Civil service system works well, continues unil Civil service system works well, continues unil 19121912

Han Technology Revolutionizes Han Technology Revolutionizes Chinese LifeChinese Life

Technology, Commerce, and Technology, Commerce, and CultureCulture

• Invention of paper Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps in A.D. 105 helps spread educationspread education

• Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow improve farmingimprove farming

Han Technology, Commerce, & CultureHan Technology, Commerce, & Culture

Agriculture Versus CommerceAgriculture Versus Commerce• As population grows, farming regarded As population grows, farming regarded

as important activityas important activity• Government allows monopolies—control Government allows monopolies—control

by one group over key industriesby one group over key industries• Techniques for producing silk become Techniques for producing silk become

state secret state secret as profits increaseas profits increase

Han Unifies Chinese CultureHan Unifies Chinese Culture

Bringing Different Peoples Under Bringing Different Peoples Under Chinese RuleChinese Rule• To unify empire, Chinese government To unify empire, Chinese government

encourages assimilationencourages assimilation• Assimilation—integrating conquered Assimilation—integrating conquered

peoples into Chinese culturepeoples into Chinese culture• Writers encourage unity by recording Writers encourage unity by recording

Chinese historyChinese history

An emperor translating classical texts from the history of the Chinese emperors.

Han Unifies Chinese CultureHan Unifies Chinese Culture Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and

ScholarsScholars• Most women work in the home and on Most women work in the home and on

the farmthe farm• Some upper-class women are educated, Some upper-class women are educated,

run shops, practice medicinerun shops, practice medicine

The Fall of the Han and Their The Fall of the Han and Their ReturnReturn

The Rich Take Advantage of the The Rich Take Advantage of the PoorPoor• Large landowners gain control of Large landowners gain control of

more and more landmore and more land• Gap between rich and poor Gap between rich and poor

increasesincreases

The Fall of the Han and Their The Fall of the Han and Their ReturnReturn

Wang Mang Overthrows the HanWang Mang Overthrows the Han• Economic problems and week Economic problems and week

emperors cause political instabilityemperors cause political instability• In A.D. 9, Wang Mang seizes power In A.D. 9, Wang Mang seizes power

and stabilizes empireand stabilizes empire• Wang Mang is assassinated in Wang Mang is assassinated in

A.D. 23; Han A.D. 23; Han soon regain controlsoon regain control

The Fall of the Han and Their The Fall of the Han and Their ReturnReturn

The Later Han YearsThe Later Han Years• Peace is restored. The Later Han Peace is restored. The Later Han

Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220