Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus Han Society Trade and Buddhism The Silk Roads Han Achievements Chinese Society and Culture

Preview

Main Idea / Reading Focus

Han Society

Trade and Buddhism

The Silk Roads

Han Achievements

Reading Focus Read pages 200 – 207 and answer these questions What features characterized Chinese society in the Han period? How did trade and the spread of Buddhism affect Han society? What were some achievements in art, science, and technology during the Han period? Main Idea The Han dynasty was a time of social change, the growth of trade, and great achievements in the arts and sciences. Chinese Society and Culture

Reading Focus

Read pages 200 – 207 and answer these questions

What features characterized Chinese society in the Han period?

How did trade and the spread of Buddhism affect Han society?

What were some achievements in art, science, and technology during the Han period?

China’s Han period was a time of great prosperity, growth and achievement, defining imperial Chinese civilization for years. Han Society Confucianism shaped Chinese society Confucius taught that family was central to well-being of the state Officials promoted strong family ties Fathers head of family Filial piety stressed Obedience, devotion to parents, grandparents Family Life Children served parents as they aged, honored dead at household shrines Han officials believed dutiful children made respectful subjects Some men even received government jobs because of respect shown parents Dutiful Children

Confucianism shaped Chinese society

Confucius taught that family was central to well-being of the state

Officials promoted strong family ties

Fathers head of family

Filial piety stressed

Obedience, devotion to parents, grandparents

Children served parents as they aged, honored dead at household shrines

Han officials believed dutiful children made respectful subjects

Some men even received government jobs because of respect shown parents

Women in China Had fewer privileges, less status than men Rarely received education, owned property Sons valued more than daughters Power and Status Older women achieved power because of Confucian respect for elders Ban Zhao , female scholar, writer; helped write history of Han dynasty Called for mutual respect between husbands, wives, education for women Marriage Sons carried on family line Remained part of parents’ household after marriage Daughters married and joined husband’s household Family Life

Women in China

Had fewer privileges, less status than men

Rarely received education, owned property

Sons valued more than daughters

Power and Status

Older women achieved power because of Confucian respect for elders

Ban Zhao , female scholar, writer; helped write history of Han dynasty

Called for mutual respect between husbands, wives, education for women

Marriage

Sons carried on family line

Remained part of parents’ household after marriage

Daughters married and joined husband’s household

Other Classes Third class composed of artisans, made useful items, luxury goods Merchants occupied fourth class, trade not valued by Confucianism Slaves at bottom of society Military not an official class, but part of government and offered way to rise in status Social Structure Han society highly structured, clearly defined social classes Emperor at top, ruled with mandate from heaven Upper class of palace court, nobles, government officials, scholars Second, largest class consisted of peasants, who grew empire’s food

Other Classes

Third class composed of artisans, made useful items, luxury goods

Merchants occupied fourth class, trade not valued by Confucianism

Slaves at bottom of society

Military not an official class, but part of government and offered way to rise in status

Social Structure

Han society highly structured, clearly defined social classes

Emperor at top, ruled with mandate from heaven

Upper class of palace court, nobles, government officials, scholars

Second, largest class consisted of peasants, who grew empire’s food

Han Society 90 percent of nearly 60 million in China at time were peasants Lived in small villages in simple houses, labored long hours in fields, worked on government projects in winter High taxes, bad weather could force them into debt Many had to sell lands, become laborers for wealthy Peasant Class Social class determined status, but not wealth or power Merchants usually wealthier than peasants, but were lower in status Wealthy in Han China lived well Spacious homes, large estates Hired numerous laborers Rich and Poor

90 percent of nearly 60 million in China at time were peasants

Lived in small villages in simple houses, labored long hours in fields, worked on government projects in winter

High taxes, bad weather could force them into debt

Many had to sell lands, become laborers for wealthy

Social class determined status, but not wealth or power

Merchants usually wealthier than peasants, but were lower in status

Wealthy in Han China lived well

Spacious homes, large estates

Hired numerous laborers

Summarize What was life like for Chinese peasants during the Han dynasty? Answer(s): worked hard in fields, farmed, raised animals, often sold land to feed families, forced to work on building projects, easily forced into debt, worked for wealthy landowners

Trade grew in Han period Agriculture basis of economy Growth of trade increased prosperity Led to contact between China, other civilizations Production of silk Most prized Chinese product Secret method for making silk Revealing secret punishable by death Han products Ironworkers made iron armor, swords Artisans made pottery, jade and bronze objects, lacquerware Major industry Raised silkworms, unwound threads of cocoons Dyed threads, wove into fabric Fabric beautiful, soft, strong Clothing costly, in high demand Trade and Buddhism

Trade grew in Han period

Agriculture basis of economy

Growth of trade increased prosperity

Led to contact between China, other civilizations

Production of silk

Most prized Chinese product

Secret method for making silk

Revealing secret punishable by death

Han products

Ironworkers made iron armor, swords

Artisans made pottery, jade and bronze objects, lacquerware

Major industry

Raised silkworms, unwound threads of cocoons

Dyed threads, wove into fabric

Fabric beautiful, soft, strong

Clothing costly, in high demand

As they conquered areas of Central Asia, the Han learned people farther west wanted Chinese goods Zhang Qian returned from Central Asia mission, 126 BC Told of region’s riches, demand for Chinese goods Events led to increased trade with west Blood-sweating horses seen by Qian The Han thought they were blessed by heaven To obtain them, Emperor Wudi conquered more land Trade with Central Asia increased even more Parasites caused boils that bled Growth of Trade

As they conquered areas of Central Asia, the Han learned people farther west wanted Chinese goods

Zhang Qian returned from Central Asia mission, 126 BC

Told of region’s riches, demand for Chinese goods

Events led to increased trade with west

Blood-sweating horses seen by Qian

The Han thought they were blessed by heaven

To obtain them, Emperor Wudi conquered more land

Trade with Central Asia increased even more

Parasites caused boils that bled

Merchants traveling between China, Central Asia used overland routes. The most famous were called the Silk Roads . This network of routes eventually stretched from China over 4,000 miles to Mediterranean Sea, and linked China to India, the Middle East, and the Roman Empire. The Silk Roads Travelers on Silk Roads crossed rugged, barren terrain Faced attacks by bandits For protection, traveled in huge camel caravans Stopped at stations along way Travel Most merchants traveled only part of way Traded goods with merchants from distant lands Most goods traded were luxury items Small, valuable, highly profitable Trade

Travelers on Silk Roads crossed rugged, barren terrain

Faced attacks by bandits

For protection, traveled in huge camel caravans

Stopped at stations along way

Most merchants traveled only part of way

Traded goods with merchants from distant lands

Most goods traded were luxury items

Small, valuable, highly profitable

Traders carried ideas as well as goods over the Silk Roads Buddhism spread to China from India Reached China in first century AD Han government became less stable, violence increased Buddhism’s message of rebirth offered hope Buddhism gained popularity by AD 200 Example of cultural diffusion Spread of ideas from one culture to another Trade and Buddhism

Traders carried ideas as well as goods over the Silk Roads

Buddhism spread to China from India

Reached China in first century AD

Han government became less stable, violence increased

Buddhism’s message of rebirth offered hope

Buddhism gained popularity by AD 200

Example of cultural diffusion

Spread of ideas from one culture to another

Draw Conclusions How did trade over the Silk Roads affect China’s culture? Answer(s): profitable trade in luxury items, connections to Central Asia, introduction of Buddhism

Classical Age During Han period, arts flourished, sciences and technology improved life Han China boasted magnificent palaces, multistoried towers None survived, but ceramic models from tombs show architecture of period Artisans and Artists Artisans produced ceramic, bronze figurines, jade carvings, silk cloth Artists painted portraits and nature scenes on walls, scrolls, room screens During Later Han, Buddhist art flourished, including temple wall paintings Han Achievements Ceramic Models: http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?showtopic=26672

Classical Age

During Han period, arts flourished, sciences and technology improved life

Han China boasted magnificent palaces, multistoried towers

None survived, but ceramic models from tombs show architecture of period

Artisans and Artists

Artisans produced ceramic, bronze figurines, jade carvings, silk cloth

Artists painted portraits and nature scenes on walls, scrolls, room screens

During Later Han, Buddhist art flourished, including temple wall paintings

Han writers produced important works of history Sima Qian Wrote Records of the Grand Historian or Shiji This early history became model for Chinese historical writing Han Achievements

Han writers produced important works of history

Sima Qian

Wrote Records of the Grand Historian or Shiji

This early history became model for Chinese historical writing

Technology One of most important Han inventions - paper Made by grinding plant fibers into paste, paste dried in sheets Created “books” by connecting several sheets of paper into long scroll Science Created seismograph to measure earthquake tremors Made advances in acupuncture , use of needles to cure disease, relieve pain Invented compass, sundial, water mill, ship’s rudder Farming Inventions included iron plow, wheelbarrow With iron plow, farmer could till more land With wheelbarrow, farmer could haul more Han Achievements

Technology

One of most important Han inventions - paper

Made by grinding plant fibers into paste, paste dried in sheets

Created “books” by connecting several sheets of paper into long scroll

Science

Created seismograph to measure earthquake tremors

Made advances in acupuncture , use of needles to cure disease, relieve pain

Invented compass, sundial, water mill, ship’s rudder

Farming

Inventions included iron plow, wheelbarrow

With iron plow, farmer could till more land

With wheelbarrow, farmer could haul more

Summarize What were some technological advances of the Han dynasty? Answer(s): paper, iron plow, wheelbarrow, acupuncture, compass, sundial, water mill, rudder