Unit 4 Classical Civilizations Lesson #12 Ancient China - The Han Dynasty

Day 1 Aim: What were the achievements of the Han Dynasty ? Do Now: Explain why paper may not be a good thing to write on and keep important information on? Do you think with the advent of computers paper will be obsolete one day. NY State Standards 2 Common Core Standards RS 5, 7, 9, WS 1, 4, 8

Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE

Reconstruction of Daming Han Palace, Xian (Chang’an) Rise of the Han After 4 years of war between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, Liu Bang defeated his rival and established the Han Dynasty with Chang'an as its capital city in 202 BCE. Chang’an soon would become the eastern end of the Silk Road! Reconstruction of Daming Han Palace, Xian (Chang’an)

Empress (Dowager) Lu 241–180 BCE Lu Zhi, the empress of Emperor Liu Bang, who started the Han Dynasty, is the 1st queen and queen mother to be recorded in Chinese history. Known for her cruelty but also for strong rule.

Emperor Wudi (156 BCE–87 BCE) Sent diplomats to Central Asia.  Silk Roads that linked Chang’an to the Mediterranean in the west. Expanded China! Fought the Xiongnu nomads from the north instead of giving them “gifts” to keep the peace.

Who were the Xiongnu? The Xiongnu were a nomadic people who lived north of China. Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi built the Great Wall to keep the Xiongnu out of China. However, he was forced to “gift” them silk, rice, etc. to keep peace. Under Han Emperor Wu, the Han army forced the Xiongnu farther north.

New Han Technologies Paper was invented by drying pulverized wood pulp onto a screen (though it was mostly used to wrap fish during the Han Dynasty!) Han physicians developed acupuncture to alleviate pain and to treat various illnesses; needles are inserted into specific points on your body .

Activity Day 1 Students will close read and annotate “Han Emperors in China” answer differentiated text based questions by Jigsawing the reading. Group will discuss answers to questions in Jigsaw and choose one for closing discussion.

Closing Day 1 Exit Slip Question: How did Emperor Wundi handle northern invaders? Homework: # 11 on the Unit 4 Outline

Day 2 Aim: What were the achievements of the Han Dynasty? Do Now: Do you think people who want to run for office should have to take an exam on American History and politics? NY State Standards 2 Common Core Standards RS 5, 7, 9, WS 1, 4, 8

Chang’an to Tiashan Corridor, Silk Road

Han Dynasty Continued… F) Chinese calligraphy developed into an art. G) Emperor Wu made Confucianism the official state ideology, and built a Confucian Academy. In order to work in any level of the government bureaucracy, you had to pass a civil service exam based on Confucianism and Chinese history. The civil service exam allowed social mobility in imperial China. This was an example of a meritocracy (a government or the holding of power by people selected on the basis of their ability.) An exam involved being locked inside the examination hall for several days and nights so candidates could not cheat. It is said that at a Nanjing examination hall there were 35 deaths of candidates each day as a candidate could not leave if they felt ill. Exact recall of the great Chinese classics (particularly of Confucius) was a key skill. The core works comprised about 400,000 characters. Only men could take the exam. Candidates would also be set a question on current affairs.

Social Classes under the Han Emperor Governors and Kings Nobles, Scholars, and State Officials Peasants (Farmers) Artisans and Merchants Soldiers Slaves

The Role of Women A) As the Han state official ideology was Confucianism, women were deemed inferior to men. B) Ban Zhao (c. 45–120) was the first woman historian of China. While she called for a woman’s obedience, she also argued for a woman’s education.

Decline of the Han Dynasty Emperor Wu died in 87 BCE. By the end of the 1st century CE, natural disasters (tremors and floods) lead people to believe the Han had lost the Mandate of Heaven. Peasant rebellions. The last Han Emperor abdicated 220 CE. China would not unify for another 350 years.

The Sui Dynasty 589 – 619 CE A) The Sui linked the Grand Canal, increasing trade. They also expanded the Great Wall. B) Emperor Wen was a Buddhist and tried to spread Buddhism. He made Luoyang his capital.

Luoyang Buddhas

Activity Day 2 Students will close read and annotate “Women in Han China” answer differentiated text based questions. Group will discuss Jigsaw answers on chart paper answers to questions and choose one for closing discussion.

Closing Day 2 Exit Slip Question: What were some Han achievements? Homework: # 11 on the Unit 4 Outline

Fill in your chart for the Han & Sui Acupuncture Warring States Chang’an Western Han Civil service exam Ban Zhao Confucianism Eastern Han Empress Lu Emperor Wu Great Wall of China Han Dynasty Luoyang Silk Road Sui Dynasty