1. 7-3 “HAN EMPERORS IN CHINA”

2. THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA  Troubled Empire  In the Qin Dynasty the peasants resent high taxes and harsh labor, and rebel.

3. THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA  Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty  Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power, and founds the Han Dynasty  The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B.C. and lasts about 400 years.  Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese people and culture  Liu Bang establishes centralized government—a central authority rules.  Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces punishments to keep people happy

4. DEPICTION OF EMPEROR LIU BANG

5. THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA  The Empress Lü  Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü seizes control of empire  Empress Lü rules for her young son and outlives him.  There are palace plots and power plays occur throughout Han Dynasty

6. THE HAN RESTORE UNITY IN CHINA  The Martial Emperor  Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi rules from 141 to 87 B.C.  “Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain tribes  Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, and as far south as what is now Vietnam

7. A HIGHLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY  Emperor’s Role  Chinese believe their emperor has authority to rule from god.  Believe prosperity is the reward of good rule, and troubles reveal poor rule.

8. A HIGHLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY  Structures of Han Government  Complex bureaucracy runs Han government  People pay taxes and supply labor and military service  Government uses peasant labor to carry out public projects

10. A HIGHLY STRUCTURED SOCIETY  Confucianism, the Road to Success  Wudi’s government employs 130,000; bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs  Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained through examinations.  Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge of Confucianism  Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds schools to train them  Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive schooling  Civil service system works well, continues until 1912

11. HAN TECHNOLOGY, COMMERCE, AND CULTURE  Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life  Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps spread education  Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow improve farming

13. HAN TECHNOLOGY, COMMERCE, AND CULTURE  Agriculture Versus Commerce  As population grows, farming regarded as important activity  Government allows monopolies—control by one group over key industries  Techniques for producing silk become state secret as profits increase

14. HAN UNIFIES CHINESE CULTURE  Bringing Different Peoples Under Chinese Rule  To unify empire, Chinese government encourages assimilation  Assimilation—integrating conquered peoples into Chinese culture  Writers encourage unity by recording Chinese history

15. An emperor translating classical texts from the history of the Chinese emperors.

16. HAN UNIFIES CHINESE CULTURE  Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and Scholars  Most women work in the home and on the farm  Some upper-class women are educated, run shops, practice medicine

17. THE FALL OF THE HAN AND THEIR RETURN  The Rich Take Advantage of the Poor  Large landowners gain control of more and more land  Gap between rich and poor increases

18. THE FALL OF THE HAN AND THEIR RETURN  Wang Mang Overthrows the Han  Economic problems and weak emperors cause political instability  In A.D. 9, Wang Mang seizes power and stabilizes empire  Wang Mang is assassinated in A.D. 23; Han soon regain control

19. THE FALL OF THE HAN AND THEIR RETURN  The Later Han Years  Peace is restored. The Later Han Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220