The Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty lasted over 400 years from 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E

Begun by Liu Bang after civil war

Centralized Gov’t

Liu Bang wanted the power to lie within the center of the gov’t and not in the hands of the nobles

Central gov’t – central authority controls the running of the state Similar to the United States gov’t

Confucianism!

Liu Bang wanted to do away with Shi Huangdi’s harsh ruling - adopted Confucianism

Wudi – introduced civil service jobs Gave tests like Confucius suggested Confucius lived 400 yrs earlier

Han Contributions

Great inventors

In 132 CE, a Han inventor invented the world’s first seismograph, an instrument that measures earthquakes.

First seismograph

Seismograph Today

Papermaking

Invented around 105 CE

Before, books were written on silk

Paper was cheaper…books more

available => education spreads

Chinese paper

Han ArtAlso developed the arts

Landscape and portrait paintings advanced

Authors wrote many essays and plays

Authors also wrote history, which is why we know about them.

Han Philosophies

The Han made Confucianism the official philosophy of China

Han rulers also supported Daoism which teachers the key to happiness is accepting life as it is

Chinese TradeThe Chinese product most in demand

by other people was silk.The trade route from China to Arabia

and Europe takes its name from silk. It was called the Silk Road.

Traders traveled from China with silk.They returned with lumber, horses, and

other products the Chinese people needed.

Map of the Silk Road

The Silk Road

The Chinese used the Silk Road to export their silk. Export means that they sent their goods to other lands to be sold.

The Chinese also imported what they needed from other countries. Import means goods that are brought in.

The Chinese made profits, or money gained, from their exporting on the Silk Road.