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 creates the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B.C. and lasts about 400 years.
Divided into 2 periods
Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese people and culture
Liu Bang establishes centralized government—central authority controls the running of a state
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 that 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. Great Wall
By 140 BC, under Liu Che (156BC-87BC), the emperor Han Wudi brought war home to the Huns. He also had several parts of the Great Wall built. He ordered a construction project of the wall in 127 BC. This resulted in rebuilding an older part of the wall and an extension of territories to present day Mount Yinshan of Inner Mongolia.

8. Qin Wall

9. Visiting the Great Wall (Mutianyu )

10. Getting down from the Wall
Option 1: Go down the same way you went up
Option 2: Hike Down (takes about 20 minutes)
Option 3: Slide down (toboggan)

12. 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.

13. 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

15. 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

16. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. The Fall of the Han and Their Return
The Later Han Years
Peace is restored. The Later Han Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220
Next is the Sui Dynasty that only lasts 29 years
Followed by the Tang and Song which we will discuss in our next unit