Growth of the Chinese Empire Social Studies Chapter 12

Section 3 Han Society and Achievements

Anticipatory Set How would you define the term “values?” Think back on some examples of Confucian values and virtues.

Standards H-SS – Detail the political contributions of the Han Dynasty to the development of the imperial bureaucratic state and the expansion of the empire

The Big Idea The Han Dynasty made aspects of life more uniform in China. This, and Confucian values, were important contributions to the expansion and success of the Han Dynasty.

Key Terms Ban Zhao (bahn ZHOW) Traditional arts – arts of China, including painting, sculpture, and poetry

Han Society and Achievements  During the Han Dynasty, China’s population grew to about 60 million people  Ruling this population would have been impossible without a stable society

Han Society  Han society was a mixture of peoples and cultures  Two forces bound these groups together:  The imperial bureaucratic state and its efforts to standardize life in China  Confucian values and virtues

The Social Order Han society was divided into two main groups:  Nobles  Commoners

The Social Order Nobles:  Included the emperor and his family  The ruling families of China’s old kingdoms Commoners:  Everyone else

The Social Order China’s social order was based on Confucian values

The Social Order  In Confucian values mental work was valued more than physical labor  Scholars stood at the top of the social order  Physical work was valued more than making money  Famers and artisans occupied the center of the social order  Merchants did not produce anything  They stood on the bottom

The Social Order Scholars Farmers and Artisans Merchants

Family Life  The family stood at the center of Chinese society  Confucian teachings about family loyalty and respect for elders were key values

The Role of Women  Although women had some rights in Han society, they played a subordinate (lower) role to men  Woman was expected to obey her husband and take care of her home

The Role of Women One woman took a different path…  Ban Zhao received a good education (unlike most women of her time)  Later became a teacher and a historian in the royal court  Wrote “Lessons for Women”  Stated that young women deserved an education

Economic Life Famers were the backbone of China’s economy

Economic Life  Famers grew wheat, millet, barley, beans, and rice  Some nobles owned large estates where they raised livestock and silkworms  Silk production became an important industry during the Han period

Economic Life Other industries also become important:  Iron production  Making tools and weapons  Salt mining

Economic Life  The strength of the Han economy could be seen in the size and splendor of Chang’an  The Han capital city

Han Society Read Han Society on pages 340 – 342 of your textbook

Han Achievements The prosperity of Han China helped support many cultural achievements

China’s Traditional Arts Traditional arts of China include:  Painting  Sculpture  Poetry

China’s Traditional Arts  Han rulers created an official Bureau of Music  Musicians played drums, bells, flutes, and harps  Music and dancing were common at public festivals and ceremonies

Advances in Science Han China is known for advances in science and technology

Advances in Science  Han astronomers studied the sky and made important discoveries  Calculated the length of the solar year  Recorded eclipses of the sun and moon  Other discoveries led to the development of magnetic compasses

Advances in Science  Han doctors made progress in medicine  Explored medical uses of herbs  Understood the link between nutrition and health  Developed acupuncture

Chinese Inventions Han inventors produced important new tools:  Seismograph  Wheelbarrow  Paper  Made from rags, bark, and leaves

Han Achievements Read Han Achievements on pages 343 – 345 of your textbook

Check for Understanding Han society was divided into what two main groups? What was Han China’s social order based on? What were the three levels of Han China’s social order?

Check for Understanding Han society was divided into what two main groups? Han society wad divided into nobles and commoners. What was Han China’s social order based on? Han China’s social order was based on Confucian values and virtues. What were the three levels of Han China’s social order? The three levels of Han China’s social order were merchants at the bottom level, farmers and artisans in the middle, and scholar’s at the top.

Modeling/Guided/Independent Complete the Modeling, Guided Practice, and Independent Practice Sections of your China 12-3 Worksheet.