Fall of han dynasty

Chinese ProverbChinese Proverb

If there be righteousness in the heart,If there be righteousness in the heart,there will be beauty in the character.there will be beauty in the character.If there is beauty in the character,If there is beauty in the character,there will be harmony in the home.there will be harmony in the home.If there is harmony in the home,If there is harmony in the home,there will be order in the nation.there will be order in the nation.When there is order in each nation,When there is order in each nation,there will be peace in the world. there will be peace in the world.

Do NowDo Now

Pick up a lined sheet of paper from the Pick up a lined sheet of paper from the back counter…split in half and share back counter…split in half and share

Define the following vocab terms:Define the following vocab terms: Scholar OfficialScholar Official Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven BureaucracyBureaucracy Dynastic CycleDynastic Cycle Civil Service ExamCivil Service Exam

By the end of these notes By the end of these notes you should be able to…you should be able to…

Describe the dynastic cycleDescribe the dynastic cycle Explain how the fall of the Han Dynasty Explain how the fall of the Han Dynasty

(206 B.C.- 202 A.D.) affected China(206 B.C.- 202 A.D.) affected China Describe how Buddhism and Describe how Buddhism and

Confucianism influenced Chinese HistoryConfucianism influenced Chinese History

Chinese Dynasties:Chinese Dynasties:Common TrendsCommon Trends

Throughout history Chinese government had Throughout history Chinese government had been controlled by dynasties and between been controlled by dynasties and between each dynasty was a period of disunityeach dynasty was a period of disunity

Chinese dynasties went through a process Chinese dynasties went through a process commonly referred to as the “Dynastic Cycle” commonly referred to as the “Dynastic Cycle” or “Cycle of Chinese Dynasties”or “Cycle of Chinese Dynasties”

Chinese dynasties would have a strong rise, a Chinese dynasties would have a strong rise, a long tenure (period of rule), and a sharp fall. long tenure (period of rule), and a sharp fall. All determined by the Mandate of Heaven.All determined by the Mandate of Heaven.

Dynastic CycleDynastic Cycle


Each dynasty dealt with invasions Each dynasty dealt with invasions from nomadic groups in the North from nomadic groups in the North who were attracted by the wealth of who were attracted by the wealth of the settled and the agriculture the settled and the agriculture success of China. success of China.

Each invader who successfully Each invader who successfully conquered China adopted Chinese conquered China adopted Chinese bureaucracy and traditionbureaucracy and tradition

Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven

The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles:The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles: The right to rule is granted by Heaven. The right to rule is granted by Heaven. There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty. The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty.

Here are some of the ways these principles converted into action and Here are some of the ways these principles converted into action and justification: justification:

It gives the ruler prestige and religious importance. It gives the ruler prestige and religious importance. It gives the ruler supreme power. It gives the ruler supreme power. It allows a new ruler to gain power quickly if the people believe he has the It allows a new ruler to gain power quickly if the people believe he has the

'Mandate of Heaven'. 'Mandate of Heaven'. A ruler's power must be kept in check by virtue (He or She has to be honest). A ruler's power must be kept in check by virtue (He or She has to be honest). The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is The Mandate of Heaven justifies rebellion as long as the rebellion is

successful. Simply because it was successful, obviously then, the new ruler successful. Simply because it was successful, obviously then, the new ruler had to have had a Mandate from Heaven. had to have had a Mandate from Heaven.


Each dynasty used the same type of Each dynasty used the same type of bureaucratic structure, the civil bureaucratic structure, the civil service examination, the scholar service examination, the scholar official, Confucianism as the basis for official, Confucianism as the basis for education and elite selection, the education and elite selection, the development of successful development of successful economies, and the trend of economies, and the trend of unification and reunification.unification and reunification.

The Han DynastyThe Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty 206 B.C.-220 Han Dynasty 206 B.C.-220 A.D.A.D.

A period of progress and prosperity in ChinaA period of progress and prosperity in China The Han Dynasty great expands the Chinese The Han Dynasty great expands the Chinese

empire using a very strong armyempire using a very strong army Government policies based on Confucian ideals Government policies based on Confucian ideals

and centralized bureaucracy and the belief that and centralized bureaucracy and the belief that government should be run by educated, ethical government should be run by educated, ethical menmen

Han Dynasty and Roman Empire existed at the Han Dynasty and Roman Empire existed at the same time and traded through the silk roadsame time and traded through the silk road

Fall of Han DynastyFall of Han Dynasty

Fell because of it’s own successFell because of it’s own success Growing populationGrowing population The financial difficulties brought on by The financial difficulties brought on by

increasing wealthincreasing wealth RivalriesRivalries Ever more complex political institutionEver more complex political institution

Results of the FallResults of the Fall

China experiences a 300 year period China experiences a 300 year period of disunityof disunity Several warring states tried to take Several warring states tried to take

control of China with little successcontrol of China with little success The belief system of Confucianism began The belief system of Confucianism began

to loose its popularity to Buddhismto loose its popularity to Buddhism Major technological advances were madeMajor technological advances were made

Gunpowder, etc.Gunpowder, etc.

From Confucianism to From Confucianism to BuddhismBuddhism

Buddhism became very influential during the Buddhism became very influential during the three hundred years of disunity following the three hundred years of disunity following the fall of the Han Dynasty.fall of the Han Dynasty.

Buddhism offered an explanation of why Buddhism offered an explanation of why humans suffered and offered a relief from the humans suffered and offered a relief from the suffering of the Chinese people. suffering of the Chinese people.

Confucianism focused more on the ethics and Confucianism focused more on the ethics and morals of human character and did not take morals of human character and did not take into consideration times of disunity and into consideration times of disunity and sufferingsuffering

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Fall of han dynasty