Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.Han Dynasty, 206 B.C.E.--220 C.E.220 C.E. ““People of the HanPeople of the Han”” original Chineseoriginal Chinese

PaperPaper invented [105 B.C.E.] invented [105 B.C.E.]

Silk RoadSilk Road trade develops; improves life for manytrade develops; improves life for many

Buddhism introduced into ChinaBuddhism introduced into China

Expanded into Central AsiaExpanded into Central Asia

The Long Reign of the HanThe Long Reign of the Han(206(206 b.c.eb.c.e..––220220 c.ec.e.).)

Liu Bang, a peasant Liu Bang, a peasant who defeated all other who defeated all other contestants for control contestants for control of China, established of China, established the Han dynasty the Han dynasty The Han established The Han established

a political system that a political system that drew on both drew on both Confucian philosophy Confucian philosophy and Legalist and Legalist techniques techniques

Han Organizing PrinciplesHan Organizing Principles

Heaven, earth, man form eternal trinityHeaven, earth, man form eternal trinity

Economic welfare is basis of popular Economic welfare is basis of popular moralitymorality

Government must provide peace & Government must provide peace & prosperity, & educationprosperity, & education Moral education through rites, music & Moral education through rites, music &

literatureliterature

Concept of Imperial PowerConcept of Imperial Power

Emperor is a moral agentEmperor is a moral agent Representative of hierarchical order of Representative of hierarchical order of

mankindmankind

A reflection of the order of the universeA reflection of the order of the universe

Responsible for keeping mankind in harmonyResponsible for keeping mankind in harmony Does this through moral suasionDoes this through moral suasion

Sets a moral exampleSets a moral example

Goodness & virtue given embodiment in rites Goodness & virtue given embodiment in rites & music& music

Central GovernmentCentral Government

The central government was run by two The central government was run by two chief officials and included a number of chief officials and included a number of functionally specialized ministersfunctionally specialized ministers

Local officials collected taxes, drafted Local officials collected taxes, drafted men for men for corvcorvééee labor and military labor and military service, and settled local disputesservice, and settled local disputes

Most people had no contact with the Most people had no contact with the central government.central government. Local officials were supplied by a class of Local officials were supplied by a class of

moderately wealthy, educated local moderately wealthy, educated local landowners whom historians refer to as landowners whom historians refer to as the the ““gentry.gentry.”” The gentry adopted Confucianism as their The gentry adopted Confucianism as their

ideology and pursued careers in the civil ideology and pursued careers in the civil serviceservice

The GovernmentThe Government

BureaucracyBureaucracy Highly organized & centralized governmentHighly organized & centralized government

Civil Service ExamCivil Service Exam Scores determined who received positions in Scores determined who received positions in

the governmentthe government Exams based on Confucian philosophyExams based on Confucian philosophy No favoritism; had to prove they were No favoritism; had to prove they were

qualified qualified

Civil Service ExaminationCivil Service Examination During the Han dynasty, a civil service During the Han dynasty, a civil service

examination based on Confucianism was examination based on Confucianism was established.established.

In order to work in the Chinese government, a In order to work in the Chinese government, a man had to pass an examination on Chinese man had to pass an examination on Chinese history and Confucianism.history and Confucianism.

Only scholars could work in the government.Only scholars could work in the government.

Han BureaucracyHan Bureaucracy

EMPEROREMPEROR

LOCAL GOVERNMENTSLOCAL GOVERNMENTS THREETHREE EXCELLENCIESEXCELLENCIES

Chancellor Grandee Secretary Commander-in-chief

Generals

Armies

Chancellor’s Office

10 Ministers

Prefecture Commandery

District

Commune

Village

Inspecting SecretaryCommandery Commandant

Specialists

Chang’anThe Han Capital

Chang’anThe Han Capital

Chang’an was an easily defended walled city with easy access to good arable land. The population in 2 c.e. was 246,000. Other cities and towns imitated the urban planning of Chang’an

Living in ChangLiving in Chang’’ anan

The elite of Chang’an lived in elegant multistoried houses arranged on broad, well-planned boulevards They dressed in fine silks, were

connoisseurs of art and literature, and indulged in numerous entertainments The common people lived in closely

packed houses in largely unplanned, winding alleys

The Emperor inThe Emperor in ChangChang’’anan

The emperor was supreme in the state and in society

He was regarded as the Son of Heaven, the link between heaven and the human world

Emperors were the source of law.

But anything that went seriously wrong could be interpreted to mean that the emperor was guilty of misrule and that he was losing the Mandate of Heaven

Emperors lived in seclusion, Emperors lived in seclusion, surrounded by a royal retinue that surrounded by a royal retinue that included wives, family, servants, included wives, family, servants, courtiers, and officialscourtiers, and officials

Han Territorial ExpansionHan Territorial Expansion

After a period of consolidation, the Han After a period of consolidation, the Han went through a period of territorial went through a period of territorial expansion under Emperor Wu expansion under Emperor Wu (r. 140(r. 140––87 87 b.c.eb.c.e.) .)

During the Western Han period (202 During the Western Han period (202 b.c.eb.c.e..––8 8 c.ec.e.) the capital was at .) the capital was at ChangChang’’anan. .

During the Eastern Han (23During the Eastern Han (23––22 22 c.ec.e.) the .) the capital was at Luoyang.capital was at Luoyang.

Emperor Wudi, 141-87 B.C.E.EmperorEmperor WudiWudi, 141, 141--87 B.C.E.87 B.C.E.

Started public schools.Started public schools.

Colonized Manchuria, Colonized Manchuria, Korea, & Vietnam.Korea, & Vietnam.

Civil service system Civil service system bureaucratsbureaucrats Confucian scholarConfucian scholar--gentrygentry

Revival of Chinese Revival of Chinese landscape painting.landscape painting.

The EconomyThe Economy

The Silk Road The Silk Road trade route that trade route that connected Xian China to Romeconnected Xian China to Rome Chinese exported silk to rest of the worldChinese exported silk to rest of the world

Sold the Government stored surplus grain, Sold the Government stored surplus grain, iron, & saltiron, & salt surplus to raise income instead of raising taxessurplus to raise income instead of raising taxes

Overland TradeOverland Trade

During the Han dynasty, merchants During the Han dynasty, merchants established overland trade routes to other established overland trade routes to other centers of civilization.centers of civilization.

The Silk Road went through Central Asia The Silk Road went through Central Asia to the Middle East.to the Middle East.

The Silk Road was a famous Chinese The Silk Road was a famous Chinese trading route.trading route.

Trade Routes of the Ancient WorldTrade Routes of the Ancient World

Cultural DiffusionCultural Diffusion

Cultural diffusion is the exchange of Cultural diffusion is the exchange of cultural ideas and/or objects.cultural ideas and/or objects.

The Silk Road encouraged cultural The Silk Road encouraged cultural diffusion.diffusion.

Chinese ideas and objects were Chinese ideas and objects were introduced to other cultures.introduced to other cultures.

Chinese contactwith India led tothe introductionof Buddhism in

China.

AchievementsAchievements

PaperPaper

Wheel BarrowWheel Barrow

CompassCompass

Seismograph Seismograph

AchievementsAchievements

Acupuncture Acupuncture Inserting needles into certain points in the human body can Inserting needles into certain points in the human body can

alleviate pain alleviate pain

Believed to restore health & well beingBelieved to restore health & well being

Han ArtifactsHan Artifacts

Imperial Imperial SealSeal

Han Ceramic Han Ceramic HouseHouse