Han Dynasty

Do Now: Examine the maps of the dynasties. Describe the physical change in the size, extent, and areas included for each dynasty

Han DynastyHan Dynasty206 BCE-220 CE206 BCE-220 CE

Han Dynasty:Han Dynasty:AdministrationAdministration

________ restores order using military support ________ restores order using military support and brilliant advisors. (206 – 195 B.C.E.)and brilliant advisors. (206 – 195 B.C.E.)

Continued_____________________ of QinContinued_____________________ of Qin A middle path between ______________ of the A middle path between ______________ of the

Zhou and _____centralization of the Qin. He Zhou and _____centralization of the Qin. He allowed large landholdings but also created allowed large landholdings but also created administrative districts governed by officials.administrative districts governed by officials.

Liu Bang

Centralized imperial rule

decentralizationtight

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ho/05/eac/hob_1984.397.htm

Han AdministrationHan Administration ___________, the “Martial Emperor” ___________, the “Martial Emperor”

shaped policies of administrative shaped policies of administrative centralization and imperial centralization and imperial expansion. (141-87 B.C.E.)expansion. (141-87 B.C.E.)

Used a Used a LegalistLegalist principles of principles of government.government.

Used ________ as close advisors Used ________ as close advisors because they could not produce a because they could not produce a family to threaten authorityfamily to threaten authority

Built a __________Built a __________ Built ______ and ______ to facilitate Built ______ and ______ to facilitate

communicationcommunication Established imperial _________ on Established imperial _________ on

the production of iron and salt and the production of iron and salt and levied taxes.levied taxes.

Han Wudi

bureaucracyroads canals

monopolies

eunuchs

Adopts some Confucian ideals!Adopts some Confucian ideals! Established civil service systemEstablished civil service system Develops imperial university – used Develops imperial university – used

Confucianism as the basis for its Confucianism as the basis for its curriculum.curriculum.

Needed educated group of men to Needed educated group of men to effectively run centralized bureaucratic effectively run centralized bureaucratic governmentgovernment

Foreign Policy:

• Expanded his power – invaded Vietnam and Korea and spread Confucian values.

• Threatened by Xiongnu (Hsiung-nu), nomadic people from steppes of central Asia. Maodun was most feared leader.

• Han Wudi invaded the Xiongnu lands and seized sole control of the east and central Asia.

Wang Mang “The Socialist Emperor”Wang Mang “The Socialist Emperor” 9 – 23 CE9 – 23 CE Wang Mang was a respected Han minister who claimed Wang Mang was a respected Han minister who claimed

the Mandate of Heaven and ruled China.the Mandate of Heaven and ruled China. Made major reforms:Made major reforms:

Limited the amount of land a family could holdLimited the amount of land a family could hold Ordered officials to break up large estatesOrdered officials to break up large estates Land redistribution: Provided landless individuals with property Land redistribution: Provided landless individuals with property

to cultivate.to cultivate.

Major Problems:

•Lack of communication and organization led to mass confusion

•Landlords and peasants both resisted reforms

•Poor harvests and famine sparked revolts

•Wang Mang was overthrown and killed!

•The concept of a state ruled by men of ability and virtue was an outgrowth of Confucian philosophy. The examination system was an attempt to recruit men on the basis of merit rather than on the basis of family or political connection. (_____________)

•If a person passed the provincial examination, his entire family was raised in status to that of _____________, thereby receiving prestige and privilege.

The Civil Service ExaminationThe Civil Service Examination

•The texts studied for the examination were the Confucian classics. Although only a small percentage of students could achieve office, students spent 20 to 30 years memorizing the orthodox commentaries in preparation for a series of up to eight examinations for the highest degree.

Exam candidates gather around the wall where the results had been posted. (c. 1540)

meritocracy

scholar gentry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Civilserviceexam1.jpg


Three levels:

•Local district/prefectural exams. A person passing these exams was awarded the title of a budding scholar was exempted from certain military drafts, public works duties and some taxes.

•Provincial exams, which were given once every three years at the provincial capital. A budding scholar who passed these exams was awarded the title of a Juren (elevated scholar)•The “joint” exams, followed by the palace exams. Those who passed the joint exams were given the title of a Gongsheng (tributary scholar) and those who passed the final step of the palace exams were given the much coveted title and privileges of a Jinshi (advanced scholar) and were eligible for official appointments.

•Both the district and the palace exams were one-day long.

•The provincial and the joint exams each was a long (9days and 9 nights) a harsh experience that took place in large prison-like examination compounds.

•Candidates were tested on knowledge, which was demonstrated through written essays, of the contents of nine classic texts of Confucian philosophy and history called the Four Books and Five Classics; on poetry; on the writing of official documents; and on national policy issues.


These exams were open to all and a person could take these

exams as many times as desired, provided that person had

already passed the previous level of exams.

To what extent is this a true meritocracy?

•Severe punishments were meted out for people caught cheating, including caning or being placed in stocks for a month. There were occasional cases where cheaters were executed. •By the Song dynasty, large prison-like exam compounds that could accommodate up to 20,000+ examinees with armed guards and with thorny bushes planted around the outer walls were built.

The Civil Service The Civil Service ExaminationExamination

•During the exams, very strict exam procedures were followed

- Candidates were divided into small groups responsible for each other’s behaviors.

- Watchtowers were built around the exam compounds

- Very strict personal search (including body searches)

-strict and precise rules and specifications regarding clothing -close constant proctoring -anonymity in scoring through concealed names

Which of the following were invented first by the Chinese, specifically during the Han Dynasty?

1. Paper

2. The Wheelbarrow

3. The Hot Air Balloon

4. The Ship Rudder

Technology of the Han DynastyTechnology of the Han Dynasty

Wasn’t that the Egyptians?

I am sure that was the Spanish

or the Portuguese

Must be a European thing

Wasn’t that DaVinci?

Wheelbarrows did not exist in Europe before the eleventh or twelfth century. Descriptions of the wheelbarrow in China refer to first century BC, and the oldest surviving picture, a frieze relief from a tomb-shrine in Szechuan province, dates from about 118 AD.

Papyrus, the inner bark of the papyrus plant, is not true paper. Paper is a sheet of sediment which results from the settling of a layer of disintegrated fibers from a watery solution onto a flat mold. Once the water is drained away, the deposited layer is removed and dried. The oldest surviving piece of paper in the world is made of hemp fibers and dates from between the years 140 and 87 BC. The oldest paper with writing on it, also from China, is dated to 110 AD and contains about two dozen characters.


Until Europeans adopted the rudder from the Chinese, Western ships had to make do with steering oars. This meant that long voyages of discovery by Europeans were impossible. The famous voyages of Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, and others of their time were only made possible by the adoption of Chinese nautical technology.


Chinese globe lanterns made of paper, like the one shown here, were used as miniature hot-air balloons in China for centuries. The invention of paper came at about the same time as the first balloons were tested - the second century

2nd century 2nd century BCE BCE

Paper invented - Paper invented - 1400 years later in Western civilization1400 years later in Western civilization The rotary winnowing fan - The rotary winnowing fan - 2000 years later in the West2000 years later in the WestThe multi-tube seed drill - The multi-tube seed drill - 1800 years later in the West1800 years later in the WestCrank handle - Crank handle - 1100 years later in the West1100 years later in the WestManufacture of steel from cast iron - Manufacture of steel from cast iron - 2000 years later in the West2000 years later in the WestScience of endocrinology - Science of endocrinology - 2100 years later in the West2100 years later in the WestHexagonal structure of snowflakes - Hexagonal structure of snowflakes - 1800 years later in the West1800 years later in the WestParachute - Parachute - 2000 years later in the West2000 years later in the WestMiniature hot-air balloons - Miniature hot-air balloons - 1400 years later in the West1400 years later in the WestTuned drums - Tuned drums - 2000 years later in the West2000 years later in the West

1st century BCE 1st century BCE Deep drilling for natural gas - Deep drilling for natural gas - 1900 years later in the West1900 years later in the WestBelt driveBelt drive - 1400-1800 years later in the West - 1400-1800 years later in the WestWheelbarrow - Wheelbarrow - 1300 years later in the West1300 years later in the WestSliding calipers - Sliding calipers - 1700 years later in the West1700 years later in the WestHermetically sealed labs - aHermetically sealed labs - about 2000 years later in the Westbout 2000 years later in the West

1st century CE1st century CE Water power - Water power - 1200 years later in the West1200 years later in the WestChain pump - Chain pump - 1400 years later in the West1400 years later in the WestSuspension bridge - Suspension bridge - 1800 years later in the West1800 years later in the WestThe rudder - The rudder - 1100 years later in the West1100 years later in the WestSeismograph (130 AD) - Seismograph (130 AD) - 1400 years later in the West1400 years later in the West


Fall of the Han DynastyFall of the Han DynastyThere were three main types of difficulties: political, There were three main types of difficulties: political,

social, and economicsocial, and economic

Categorize the following problems on your worksheet:

•Big distinctions between rich and poor led to peasant discontent

•Unequal land distribution

•Slaves and tenant farmers worked on large estates; small farms could not compete

•Wang Mang temporarily seized the throne and implemented land reform that was not adhered to

•Later Han dynasty was weakened by threats to power

•The Yellow Turban revolt was organized by peasants

•Nomads threatened the empire

Education

Han Dynasty