Han Dynasty

What is an internal strife?

What is a civil war?

What is a dynasty?

specific period in history when a sequence of rulers from the same family ruled, power inherited

example: Han dynasty

reign of 30 Emperors

from Han Gaozu (202 BCE) to Han Xiandi (189CE)

violent conflict within a country, empire or dynasty fought by organised groups that aim to take power

Examples

American Civil War (1861-1865)

Between Northern and Southern American states over slavery

Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009)

Between Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government because Tamil Tigers wanted an independent state

disintegration of Eastern Han into a period known as the Three Kingdoms (220 CE - 280 CE)

similar to civil war, just smaller in scale

example: brothers fighting for a throne

From Qin to Han

Qin Shi Huang ➡ Qin Er Shi (Huhai) ➡ Qin San Shi (child Emperor) COLLAPSE ⚠

Qin Shi Huang died in 210 BCE

throne was passed to second son because the elder son was tricked into committing suicide

3 years after, he also took his own life

rule passed to child-emperor who surrendered to Han peasant rebels, led by Liu Bang, within a year (in 206 BCE)

Liu Bang became first Han Emperor, renamed himself Han Gaozu

Introduction

206 BCE - 220 CE

lasted 4 centuries, longest of China's dynasties

2 main periods with brief interruption in between

captial city of Chang'an (Early/Western Han)

moved to Luoyang (Later/Eastern Han)

golden age of China

cultural and intellectual advances

economic expansion

linked with the West for the first time

Simplified timeline

Western Han (206 BCE - 9 CE) ➡ Xin dynasty (9 CE - 25 CE) ➡ Eastern Han (25 CE - 220CE)

Xin Dynasty: Wang Mang, Han official. Seized power for a brief moment before being suppressed

Fall of Han (189 - 229 CE) : Yellow Turban rebellion (184 CE)

Golden Age of Han

paper making process invented by Cai Lun, a court eunuch (105 CE)

important inventions: wheelbarrow, seismograph, cast iron tools, loom for silk weaving

established Silk Road - contact with the West

first permanent and properly trained professional army

records of Grand Historian (Shiji): written by great historian Sima Qian (completed in 91 BCE)

rise of Taoism, restoration of Conficianism, Buddhism established as major religion

Important Han Emperors

Early Han

Later Han

Han Gaozu (202-195 BCE)

Han Wudi (141-87 BCE)

rose from humble peasant to become emperor

Qin official turned rebel

outstanding politician, military strategist

overturned harsh laws and taxes implemented by Qin, retained useful and efficient Qin political structures, e.g. adminstrative regions

stability returned, economy bloomed

organised civil service & government

Confucianism became official state belief

introduced early form of imperial examinations

poetry, literature, philosophy flourished

expanded territorial boundaries greatly, even to current day North Vietnam

took military action against Xiong Nu

Gwang Wu Di (25 CE - 57CE)

9th generation grandson of Liu Bang

restored rule of Han dynasty under the Liu family name after Xin Dynasty

Ming Di (57-75 CE) & Zhang Di (75-88 CE)

2nd and 3rd Emperor of Eastern Han Dynasty

diligent and capable

Ming Di

introduced Buddhism

ordered to build White Horse temple in Luoyang - first Buddhist temple in China

Zhang Di

known for reducing taxation for people

controlled government spending

promoted Confucianism

forged Han Dynasty into a formidable empire that was equal to the Roman Empire at the same time period