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