Aim: Why did the Han dynasty collapse? Do Now: Under what conditions would you lose faith in your government? Chinese today consider themselves to be “people of the Han”

Decline of Han Political problems: poor leadership, corruption, invasions, revolts Economic problems: high taxes, loans with high interest rates Social problems: large gap between rich and poor; slavery .

Han Dynasty 206 B.C.E.-220 C.E. Former Han (206 B.C.E.-9 C.E.) Interruption 9-23 C.E. Later Han (25-220 C.E.)

In Han times, the wealthiest classes enjoyed the privilege of being buried in suits of jade plaques sewn together with gold threads. Legend held that jade prevented decomposition of the deceased’s body. Scholars estimated that a jade burial suit required ten years labor. What does such a suit tell us about the lives of the Chinese elite during the Han dynasty?

1. Why was there instability in the Han Dynasty? Complex bureaucracy High taxes (peasants owed part of yearly crops to government) Peasants owed government a month’s worth of labor or military (roads, canals, irrigation)

1. Why was there instability in the Han Dynasty? Custom – a family’s land divided equally among male heirs, therefore each generation of farmers getting less land Small farmers not raising enough food and go into debt – borrow from large landowners Large landowners not required to pay taxes, so government put more burden on small farmers Led to huge gap between rich and poor

Artists lamented the neglect of Confucian codes of behavior Artists lamented the neglect of Confucian codes of behavior. Court painter Gu Kaizhi illustrates the text of the poet Zhang Hua: “Men and women know how to adorn their faces, but there is no one who knows how to adorn his character….”

2. What happened between the Former Han and Later Han? 6 B.C.E. 2 year old boy became emperor Wang Mang (Confucian scholar and member of court) ran government for emperor and in 9 C.E. Wang Mang took title of emperor for himself Former Han time period ends Policies of Wang Mang Broke up large estates, prohibited sale of land, fixed prices, eliminated the nobility, cut government salaries In 11 C.E. Yellow River flooded and left thousands dead and millions homeless Huge loss of life and property Peasant revolts; wealthy also rebel Overthrown in 23 C.E. and the Han was reinstated (Later Han)

3. How did the later Han Dynasty reorganize China? Later Han Dynasty 23-220 C.E. Strong emperors and bureaucracy Made alliances with surrounding barbarians to provide soldiers for Chinese armies Gave tribute to the border tribes so they wouldn’t invade

4. What key problems developed during the Later Han? Peasants: overtaxed, sold land to avoid paying taxes Large landlords were buying up the land increasing their power Many peasant revolts broke out

Yellow Turban Uprisings

In 189 C.E. faction led by an imperial relative descended on the Han palace and slaughtered more than 2,000 beardless men in an effort to destroy the eunuchs as a political force.

It is said that Cai Lun (62-121 C. E It is said that Cai Lun (62-121 C.E.) who was a eunuch of Han dynasty invented the paper in 105 C.E. Eunuchs, as castrated men, were initially seen as trustworthy because they posed little threat to the emperor’s harem of women; over time they became key advisors to emperors and competed for their favors Pictured above are the 10 Attendants, a group of eunuchs who grew very powerful in 189 C.E.

5. Why did the Han Dynasty come to an end? 184 C.E. Yellow Turban Rebellion Peasant revolt led by Zhang Jue Seriously weakened Hans Factions/fighting within imperial family Emperor was a child: Bureaucrats, advisers, palace, guards, regents, eunuchs and women of the court were all fighting for power By 220 C.E. empire divided amongst competing warlords into 3 kingdoms – Wei, Wu, Shu

Why was the Han Dynasty so important to China? Summary: Why was the Han Dynasty so important to China?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS7pKZJ3zPs