Han Dynasty
Agenda
Bell Ringer: Reading Quiz Chapter 4 and 5.
1. Finish Rome, Review Han China
2. Primary Document Analysis: Han China and the Civil
Service System.
3. The Downfall of a Civilization
1.
4.
Discussion of downfall, modern examples?
Comparative Outlines (Essay Formatting)
Controlling the Empire
• Starts off with a Feudal
System
• A blend of legalist
philosophy and
Confucianism
– Without the sin and
violence.
– Civil Service Examinations
• Taxation Common
– Had to be paid in cash
– Peasants at a disadvantage.
The Economy and Military
• Han suspicious of private
merchants.
– Heavy taxation
– Not allowed to be in public
office.
• Relied on waterways for
transportation.
• Military originally required
– Professional armies
adopted…
Imperial Expansion
• Silk Road becomes a
dominant trade route.
 Tiberius – the ladies are
transferring our money to
foreigners.
 Paper is invented.
 Great Wall expanded under
the Han (not the one
today)
Religion and Culture
 Confucianism is official
Religion.
 Buddhism begins showing
up in Western China.
 Qin idea of terra cotta
army is continued under
the Han.
 Modest Scale
Decline
• Emperors more worried about
•
•
•
•
material goods than control.
Noble families take over vast areas
of China, continuing a feudal
existence.
Corruption in the government led
to unrest by peasantry.
Invasion by Northern nomadic
tribes common.
Four hundred years of anarchy and
military rule follow.
Comparative Essay Outline
 Thesis (1)
 Similarity, Difference, and
Analysis
 Valid
Comparison/Contrast (2)
 Evidence (2)
 Direct Comparison (1)
 Analysis, why the
comparison (1)