Ancient China

Han Dynasty: Achievements

Ancient China: Han Society

• Provide three examples on how the Han Dynasty impacted life in China.

• A.• B.• C.

Essential Questions

• 1. How did China’s location impact its development?

• 2. How did the Han Dynasty impact China.• 3. How did the Silk Road impact: religion,

government, trade/economy?• 4. What are some of the achievements of the Han?

Which ones continue to impact modern society?

Art & Literature1. History Books2. Paintings– Experts of figure painting – a style of painting that includes

portraits of people.• Such as religious figures, Confucian leaders, emperors, and scenes from

everyday life.

3. PoetryWritten in the 500s AD, Hua Mulan or Fa Mulan is a

legendary figure from ancient China who was originally described in a poem known as the Ballad of Mulan.

This poem is thought to be based on Fu Hao. In the poem, Hua Mulan takes her aged father's place in the army. She fought for twelve years and gained high merit, but she refused any reward and retired to her hometown instead.

Mulan – Traditional and Modern

Inventions & Advances1. Paper – material made from ground fibers turned into a paste, dryed and then rolled into a scroll.2. Seismograph – device that measures the strength of earthquakes.3. Sundial – uses the position of the sun to cast shadows and tell the time of the day.4. Acupuncture – practice of inserting fine needles into the skin at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain.

****All are still used today****

Acupuncture

Farming & ManufacturingIronworks

– They manufactured iron swords and armor for the military

– Farmers gained advantages with the iron plow and wheel burrow (a cart to carry hundreds of pounds).

Manufacturing

SilkA light, soft, highly valuable fabric, was woven

from the cocoon of Silk Worms.The procedure for making silk was kept secret.

Revealing the information or smuggling silk worms out of China were punishable by death.

Trade RoutesSilk Road

– This 4,000 mile long section of routes, stretched from Chin, through central Asia and to the Mediterranean Sea.

– Western cultures, especially Romans, traded: silver, gold, precious stones and horses for Silk.

– The Silk Road was worth its many risks (bad weather & thieves). China grew wealthy from the Silk Trade alone.

Buddhism Comes to China• Over time, the Han

government became less stable. People ignored laws and violence was common. Fighting broke out and peasants were suffering.

• Buddhism seemed to provide more hope than the traditional Chinese Philosophies of Daoism or Confucianism.

• It offered rebirth and an end to suffering. By 200 AD, Buddhist alters were in the emperors palace.

Independent• Silk Road– 1. Identify the various regions that benefited from trade

along the Silk Road.– 2. List the geographical features along the Silk Road.– 3. Next, write a letter to a new caravan guide who is

going to travel the Silk Road for the first time. In the letter, explain the difficulties of the route, what problems lie ahead, where water can be found, and the length of the journey from Chang’an to the Mediterranean Sea. Also, you will include at least 4 ideas or products where can be traded along the Silk Road.