1. Common Core Standards RS 5, 7, 9, WS 1, 4, 8
Aim: Does the Han Dynasty deserve to be called a “Classical” civilization?
Do Now: Should politicians have to take a difficult exam on American history and politics before being allowed to run for office?
NY State Standards 2
Common Core Standards RS 5, 7, 9, WS 1, 4, 8

2. Han Dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE

3. 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)

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. New Han Technologies Chinese calligraphy developed into an art.
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. 
Chinese calligraphy developed into an art.

8. Chang’an to Tiashan Corridor, Silk Road

9. The Civil Service Exam
Confucianism was the official philosophy of the Han. 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 exam allowed social mobility. 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.

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Luoyang Buddhas

15. 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