Rise and Fall of the Han Dynasty
by Melany Bishop
Introduction
A Golden Age
development in social politics, economy,
military, science, culture, and foreign
exchange
Goal of the Han
Lasted (202–195 BCE)
General Facts
The second imperial dynasty of China
divided into two major periods
Western or Former Han (206 B.C.–9 A.D.)
Eastern or Later Han (25–220 A.D.)
The Han Dynasty lasted four hundred years
"people of Han"
Beginning of the Han Dynasty
Collapse of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.E)
Rebel leaders: Liu Bang and Xiang Yu
Battle of Gaixia, in modern-day Anhui.
36 commanderies (areas directly controlled by the
central government)
Western/Former Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD)
Establishment
Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu) became Emperor
Rebellion of the seven states
Capital Chang'an
Government
Han power was based on direct control of
people by the state.
Laws and regulations from Qin
Western/Former Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD)
Rise
Political
Emperor shared power with nobility and
appointed ministers
Centralization of power
Economic
Reduced taxes
Silk Route
Paper Money
Western/Former Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD)
Rise
Education
Confucian Grand
School
Written examination
Scholar Gentry Class
Religious
Confucian State
Military
Westard Expansion
Technological
Inventions
Shiji
Western/Former Han Dynasty (206 BC - 24 AD)
Fall
Wealthy families gained more power
Disputes among factions
Hierarchy
Yellow Turban Rebellion
Xiongnu
Xia Dynasty (A.D. 9-24)
Tributary Ties
Emperor Wang Mang
Red Eyebrows
Rebel Liu Xiu
East/Later Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD)
Establishment
Liu Xiu became emperor
Capital city became Luoyang
200 years
Centralization
East/Later Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD)
Rise
Political
Diplomatic missions and trade
Economic
Heavy taxation
Development
economical, scientific and cultural
East/Later Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD)
Fall
Mothers and Eunuchs struggled for power
Emperor Xian
Dominated by Dong Zhu
Overthrown by Cao Cao and Cao Pi
Height of the Han Dynasty
Emperor Wu (140 - 87 BC)
Most powerful and prosperous period
Changed the State Religion
Great military expansion
Han China
Both
Rome
East Asia
Established Empires
and dominated
regions
Mediterranean
Liu Bang conquered Rose to power by
China
establishing a
strong central
government
Augustus Ceasar
seized power from
the Roman Senate
50 Million
75 Million
Populations grew
exponentially
Followed the
collapse of the Qi
Dynasty
Following the fall of
Greece and
Carthage
Officials were not
taxed, taxed poor
peasants
Struggled with taxes
and government
involvements in
economics
Tax Revolts, church
officials and upper
class were exempt
from taxes
Xiognu Nomads
Struggled with
Goths and Huns
invasion that lead to
their demise
Rome vs. Han Dynasty
Two superpowers of the known world
Sources
http://www.history-of-china.com/han-dynasty/
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22724.htm
http://china.mrdonn.org/han.html
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/western.htm
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/eastern.htm
http://hubbsandzoleo.blogspot.com/2008/03/compare-fall-of-han-rome-and-gupta.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/12255/library/dynasty/laterHan.html
Sources cont
http://sacu.org/dynhan.html
http://www.hceis.com/chinabasic/history/han%20dynasty%20history.htm
Central and North Asia, 1000 B.C.–1 A.D.". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art
History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=04®ion=nc (October 2000)
Department of Asian Art. "Han Dynasty (206 B.C.–220 A.D.)". In Heilbrunn
Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art,
2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm
(October 2000)
http://library.thinkquest.org/12255/library/dynasty/earlyHan.html
http://www.china-window.com/china_briefing/china_history/chinesehistoryhan-dynast.shtml