Scribd
Upload
23 views2 pages

History of Han Dynasty

Uploaded by

Lim Xin Yi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
23 views2 pages

History of Han Dynasty

Uploaded by

Lim Xin Yi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

‭ he Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) was one of China's most influential and enduring‬

T
‭dynasties, shaping the cultural and political foundations of China for centuries. It is often‬
‭divided into two main periods: the Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE) and the Eastern Han‬
‭(25–220 CE), separated by the short-lived Xin Dynasty. Here's an overview of its history:‬

‭Founding of the Han Dynasty‬

‭●‬ B ‭ ackground:‬‭The Han Dynasty arose after the fall of‬‭the Qin Dynasty (221–206‬
‭BCE), whose harsh legalist policies led to widespread rebellions.‬
‭●‬ ‭Founder:‬‭Liu Bang, a commoner-turned-rebel leader,‬‭defeated rival warlords,‬
‭including Xiang Yu, in a civil war. He established the Han Dynasty in 206 BCE,‬
‭becoming Emperor Gaozu.‬
‭●‬ ‭Governance:‬‭Gaozu retained some administrative structures‬‭of the Qin, such as‬
‭centralized government, but softened its harsh policies, adopting Confucianism as‬
‭the guiding philosophy.‬

‭Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)‬

‭●‬ E ‭ xpansion:‬‭The Han Dynasty expanded its territory‬‭significantly, including parts of‬
‭modern Korea, Vietnam, and Central Asia, consolidating China’s position as a major‬
‭power.‬
‭●‬ ‭Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BCE):‬‭Known as Han Wudi, he‬‭is one of China’s greatest‬
‭emperors. His reign was marked by:‬
‭○‬ ‭Military Campaigns:‬‭Successful wars against the Xiongnu‬‭nomads in the‬
‭north secured the Silk Road and extended Chinese influence.‬
‭○‬ ‭Economic Reforms:‬‭He introduced state monopolies on‬‭salt and iron to fund‬
‭his campaigns.‬
‭○‬ ‭Cultural Flourishing:‬‭Confucianism became the state‬‭philosophy, and the‬
‭civil service examination system began to take shape.‬
‭●‬ ‭Silk Road:‬‭Trade flourished under the Han, linking‬‭China to the Mediterranean.‬
‭Chinese silk, paper, and ceramics were exchanged for goods like gold, glassware,‬
‭and horses.‬

‭Interregnum: The Xin Dynasty (9–23 CE)‬

‭●‬ W ‭ ang Mang’s Usurpation:‬‭Wang Mang, a high-ranking‬‭official, seized power and‬


‭declared the Xin Dynasty in 9 CE. His radical reforms, such as land redistribution,‬
‭alienated the elite and failed to address widespread poverty.‬
‭●‬ ‭Fall of the Xin:‬‭Natural disasters, famines, and uprisings,‬‭such as the Red Eyebrows‬
‭Rebellion, toppled Wang Mang, and the Han Dynasty was restored in 25 CE.‬
‭Eastern Han (25–220 CE)‬

‭●‬ R ‭ estoration:‬‭Liu Xiu (Emperor Guangwu) restored the‬‭Han Dynasty, establishing the‬
‭Eastern Han with its capital at Luoyang.‬
‭●‬ ‭Economic Recovery:‬‭Efforts were made to revive agriculture‬‭and stabilize the‬
‭economy after the Xin Dynasty's upheavals.‬
‭●‬ ‭Technological Advances:‬
‭○‬ ‭Paper:‬‭Invented during the Eastern Han, paper revolutionized‬‭writing and‬
‭record-keeping.‬
‭○‬ ‭Seismograph:‬‭Zhang Heng developed one of the world’s‬‭earliest‬
‭seismographs to detect earthquakes.‬
‭●‬ ‭Decline of Central Power:‬‭Eunuch influence, court‬‭corruption, and power struggles‬
‭weakened the government.‬

‭Fall of the Han Dynasty‬

‭●‬ R ‭ ebellions:‬‭The Yellow Turban Rebellion (184 CE) and‬‭other uprisings signaled the‬
‭weakening of Han authority.‬
‭●‬ ‭Fragmentation:‬‭Regional warlords gained power, leading‬‭to a period of division. In‬
‭220 CE, the last Han emperor abdicated, marking the end of the dynasty and the‬
‭beginning of the Three Kingdoms Period (220–280 CE).‬

‭Legacy of the Han Dynasty‬

‭●‬ C ‭ ultural Identity:‬‭The Han Dynasty gave its name to‬‭the Han ethnic group, the‬
‭largest ethnic group in China today, and the Chinese written script (汉字).‬
‭●‬ ‭Confucianism:‬‭The adoption of Confucianism as the‬‭state ideology shaped China’s‬
‭values, education, and governance.‬
‭●‬ ‭Silk Road:‬‭Han China’s participation in trade established‬‭cultural and economic‬
‭exchanges that influenced both East and West.‬

‭ he Han Dynasty is often seen as a golden age of Chinese civilization, laying the‬
T
‭groundwork for future dynasties and establishing traditions that endured for millennia.‬

You might also like