Liu Bang established centralized government established centralized government had authority over all had authority over all lowered taxes eased harsh punishments brought stability & peace

Empress Lu Controlled the throne by naming one infant after another as emperor and acted as regent for each

Wudi conquered lands and made allies of the enemies of his enemies set up civil service system of training & examinations for those who wanted government careers

Wang Ming minted new money to relieve treasury shortage established public granaries to feed the poor tried to redistribute land from the rich to the poor

Paper is invented increased availability of books helped spread education promoted expansion of government bureaucracy by producing records that could be more easily read & stored

Government makes techniques of silk production a closely guarded secret Helped create a worldwide demand for silk & expanded Chinese commerce all the way to Rome

Territorial expansion brings people of many cultures under Chinese rule government recognizes need to unify empire & promote various methods of assimilation by: intermarriage schools to teach conquered peoples appointing local people to government

Gap between rich & poor increases political instability increases weakens the economy imbalance topples the empire