HAN DYNASTY (206BC- 220AD)

→After the downfall of the Qin Dynasty, Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty- named after the tributary river of the Yangtze.

first rule under the Han

dynasty would undergo a brief 14 year overthrow, after which the Han would be restated the throne

reestablished Confucianism and Confucian values as the basis for government

second rule under the Han

established connections throughout Asia, India, Middle East, and Europe

Former Han Dynasty(206 BC- 9 AD)

Later Han Dynasty(23 Ad- 220 AD)

The Han Dynasty lasted for over 400

years Often compared to the Roman Empire

HAN GOVERNMENT:

Emperor relied on a large, complex

bureaucracy to ruleBureaucracy:

establishment of a number of officials who help

govern society

USED A CIVIL SERVICE TO DETERMINE QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO HELP RUN GOVERNMENT

Government jobs that civilians obtained by taking examinations

Examinations could be taken by anyone and required memorization of Confucian Analects

Emperor (semi divine

ruler)

King and Governers

(appointed by emperor

State officals, nobles, and

scholars(helped kings

within the empire)

Peasants (backbone of

Chinese society)

Artisans and Merchants

Soldiers (kept in low status to

prevent revolts)slaves

EXPANSION UNDER THE HAN:

Encouraged assimilation of conquered peopleAssimilation:

process of making conquered people apart of Chinese Culture

Sent Chinese farmers out to

conquered areas to intermarry, teach

farming techniques

Government officials set up

schools to train people in Confucian

philosophy

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Established Confucianis

m as the accepted

philosophy in China

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Introduced civil

service

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Learned how to make paper

invented wheelbarro

w

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Used seismograph

to detect magnitude

of earthquake

s