The Han Dynasty restored unity in China after the fall of the Qin Dynasty. Liu Bang defeated his rival Xiang Yu to found the Han Dynasty in 202 BC. He established a centralized government with lower taxes that gained popular support. The Han Dynasty saw economic growth through advances in agriculture and commerce. Confucianism became the dominant ideology and civil service exams tested applicants on Confucian classics. However, inequality grew and rebellions eventually caused the Han Dynasty to fall in AD 220.

1. 7.3 Han Emperors in China

2. The Han Restore Unity in China
 Troubled Empire
• In the Qin
Dynasty the
peasants resent
high taxes and
harsh labor, and
rebel.

3. The Han Restore Unity in China
 Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty
• Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power,
and founds the Han Dynasty
• The Han Dynasty begins about 202 B.C. and
lasts about 400 years.
• Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese
people and culture
• Liu Bang establishes centralized government—
a central authority rules.
• Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces
punishments to keep people happy

4. Depiction of Emperor Liu Bang

5. The Han Restore Unity in China
 The Empress Lü
• Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü
seizes control of empire
• Empress Lü rules for her young son
and outlives him.
• There are palace plots and power
plays occur throughout Han
Dynasty

6. The Han Restore Unity in China
 The Martial Emperor
• Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi
rules from 141 to 87 B.C.
• “Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats
Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain
tribes
• Colonizes Manchuria, Korea,
and as far south as what is
now Vietnam

7. A Highly Structured Society
 Emperor’s Role
• Chinese believe their emperor has
authority to rule from god.
• Believe prosperity is the reward of good
rule, and troubles reveal poor rule.

8. A Highly Structured Society
 Structures of Han Government
• Complex bureaucracy runs Han
government
• People pay taxes and supply labor and
military service
• Government uses peasant labor to carry
out public projects

10. A Highly Structured Society
 Confucianism, the Road to Success
• Wudi’s government employs 130,000;
bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs
• Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained
through examinations.
• Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge
of Confucianism
• Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds schools
to train them
• Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive
schooling
• Civil service system works well, continues unil
1912

11. Han Technology Revolutionizes
Chinese Life
Technology, Commerce, and
Culture
• Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps
spread education
• Collar harness, plow, and wheelbarrow
improve farming

13. Han Technology, Commerce, & Culture
 Agriculture Versus Commerce
• As population grows, farming regarded
as important activity
• Government allows monopolies—control
by one group over key industries
• Techniques for producing silk become
state secret as profits increase

14. Han Unifies Chinese Culture
 Bringing Different Peoples Under
Chinese Rule
• To unify empire, Chinese government
encourages assimilation
• Assimilation—integrating conquered
peoples into Chinese culture
• Writers encourage unity by recording
Chinese history

15. An emperor translating classical
texts from the history of the
Chinese emperors.

16. Han Unifies Chinese Culture
 Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and
Scholars
• Most women work in the home and on
the farm
• Some upper-class women are educated,
run shops, practice medicine

17. The Fall of the Han and Their
Return
 The Rich Take Advantage of the
Poor
• Large landowners gain control of
more and more land
• Gap between rich and poor
increases

18. The Fall of the Han and Their
Return
 Wang Mang Overthrows the Han
• Economic problems and week
emperors cause political instability
• In A.D. 9, Wang Mang seizes
power and stabilizes empire
• Wang Mang is assassinated
in A.D. 23;
Han soon regain control

19. The Fall of the Han and Their
Return
 The Later Han Years
• Peace is restored. The Later Han
Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220