Introduction
The Han Dynasty was preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms in China. The Han Dynasty lasted for 426 years, from 206 BC to 220 AD. The dynasty was divided into two periods, the Former Han or Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-8 AD) and the Later Han or Eastern Han Dynasty (24-220 AD), due to an establishment of a new "dynasty" that lasted for 16 years and only had one emperor, Wang Mang, who was from a landholding family. The capital city during the Western Han Dynasty was at Chang'an, but the capital city was relocated to Luoyang during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty was considered to be one of the most prominent dynasties of Chinese History for its accomplishments and glory, most Chinese today still call themselves the Han people. "Han Dynasty"
The map of the Western Han Dynasty in 87 BC(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Han_map.jpg)
The map of the Eastern Han Dynasty in 189 AD(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Han_provinces.jpg)
After the death of Qin Shi Huang, the last emperor of the Qin Dynasty, the people began revolting and fighting for land and power. With continuous rebellion one after another led by a military commander called Xiang Yu, the Qin Dynasty crumbled in 206 BC. Xiang Yu then divieded the land into 19 feudal states and ruled over them to his own contentment. "Xiang Yu" Liu Bang, who was given a piece of land from Xiang Yu, improved the agriculture and soon he had a large army of his own. Liu Bang then waged war against all other feudal states and eventually overthrew Xiang Yu in 202 BC, and in that year, he proclaimed himself the first emperor of the Han Dynasty and brought all states under his control to regain peace. "Emergence of Han Dynasty" "Emperor Gaozu of Han"
Leaders of the Civilization
There were a total of 30 emperors during the reign of the Han Dynasty; 15 emperors during the Western Han Dynasty and 15 during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The names are listed below. "Sovereigns of Han Dynasty"
Western Han Dynasty (206 BC -9 AD)
- Emperor Gaozu (206-195 BC)
- Emperor Hui (194-188 BC)
- Emperor Shao Gong (188-184 BC)
- Emperor Shao Hong (184-180 BC)
- Emperor Wen (179-157 BC)
- Emperor Jing (156-141 BC)
- Emperor Wu (140-87 BC)
- Emperor Zhao (86-74 BC)
- The Prince of Changyi (74 BC)
- Emperor Xuan (73-49 BC)
- Emperor Yuan (48-33 BC)
- Emperor Cheng (32-7 BC)
- Emperor Ai (6-1 BC)
- Emperor Ping (1 BC-5 AD)
- Emperor Ruzi Ying (6-8 AD)
Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang), the first emperor ofthe Han Dynasty
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/HanGaozu.jpg)
- Emperor Geng Shi (23-25 AD)
- Emperor Guang Wu (25-57 AD)
- Emperor Ming (56-75 AD)
- Emperor Zhang (76-88 AD)
- Emperor He (89-105 AD)
- Emperor Shang (106 AD)
- Emperor An (106-125 AD)
- Emperor Shao (126 AD)
- Emperor Shun (125-144 AD)
- Emperor Chong (144-145 AD)
- Emperor Zhi (145-146 AD)
- Emperor Huan (146-168 AD)
- Emperor Ling (168-189 AD)
- Emperor Shao (189 AD)
- Emperor Xian (189-220 AD)
Emperor Xian, the last emperor ofthe Han Dynasty
(http://www.nsc.gov.tw/files/popsc/2003_327/9212-10-05.jpg)
Other Leader of the Same Time Period
Around 63 BC to 44 BC was the reign of Julius Caesar, a Roman military and political leader who was considered one of the most influential men in world history for his role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire through his military and political conquests. From his alliance with Licinius Crasscus and Pompeius Magnus, Julius Caesar gained control of the Roman politics. From his conquest Gaul, the Roman world was extended far away to the Atlantic Ocean, where he gained power over the Roman armies. Julius Caesar was declared Dictator for life after his extensive reforms of the government and society. Despite all the glory he had, his reign was put to a sudden stop when Caesar's former friend, Junius Brutus, led a group of senates to stab him to death on March 15 in 44 BC. The assassination of Caesar resulted in a Roman civil war led by Caesar's adopted heir, Octavianus, against Brutus and Cassius, the sole leaders of Caesar's assassination. "Julius Caesar"
A Bronze Statue of Julius Caesar
(http://www.bible-history.com/past/images/julius_caesar_statue.jpg)
Around 63 BC to 44 BC was the reign of Julius Caesar, a Roman military and political leader who was considered one of the most influential men in world history for his role in transforming the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire through his military and political conquests. From his alliance with Licinius Crasscus and Pompeius Magnus, Julius Caesar gained control of the Roman politics. From his conquest Gaul, the Roman world was extended far away to the Atlantic Ocean, where he gained power over the Roman armies. Julius Caesar was declared Dictator for life after his extensive reforms of the government and society. Despite all the glory he had, his reign was put to a sudden stop when Caesar's former friend, Junius Brutus, led a group of senates to stab him to death on March 15 in 44 BC. The assassination of Caesar resulted in a Roman civil war led by Caesar's adopted heir, Octavianus, against Brutus and Cassius, the sole leaders of Caesar's assassination. "Julius Caesar"
A Bronze Statue of Julius Caesar(http://www.bible-history.com/past/images/julius_caesar_statue.jpg)
Accomplishments
The Government of the Han Dynasty period changes from one emperor to another. The government retained some the old Qin Dynasty's method of feudal states during the reign of the first emperor. After the first emperor, Taoism was also implemented into the Legalist methods , which helped the civilians by lowering tax. But most importantly, during emperor Wudi's reign, which was the most prosperous period of the Han rule, the Government had also combined Confucianism into its policies. The use of Confucianism led to a civil service exam in which the officials must pass in order to be granted a governing post. The civil service system lasted ever since until it was abolished in 1911 AD. "Government of the Han Dynasty"
The culture, literature, society, and technology flourished under the Han rule. Sima Qian, China's most famous historian, was born in the time of the Han Dynasty. His work, the Records of the Grand Historians of the Shiji, provides evidence dated back to the time of the Xia Dynasty (2100-1600 BC) that was said to be legendary. Shi poetry was said to be created during the Han Dynasty be a scholar named Zhang Heng (78-138 AD). This scholar was also responsible for the creation of a hydraulic-powered armillary sphere and the seismometer that can detect earthquakes that struck hundreds of killometers away. Other notable Chinese creations introduced during the Han Dynasty were paper, winnowing machines, and the manipulation of metals. Chinese at that time learned how to highly durable metal of steel from wrought iron and cast iron. "Culture, society, and technology"
The Government of the Han Dynasty period changes from one emperor to another. The government retained some the old Qin Dynasty's method of feudal states during the reign of the first emperor. After the first emperor, Taoism was also implemented into the Legalist methods , which helped the civilians by lowering tax. But most importantly, during emperor Wudi's reign, which was the most prosperous period of the Han rule, the Government had also combined Confucianism into its policies. The use of Confucianism led to a civil service exam in which the officials must pass in order to be granted a governing post. The civil service system lasted ever since until it was abolished in 1911 AD. "Government of the Han Dynasty"
The culture, literature, society, and technology flourished under the Han rule. Sima Qian, China's most famous historian, was born in the time of the Han Dynasty. His work, the Records of the Grand Historians of the Shiji, provides evidence dated back to the time of the Xia Dynasty (2100-1600 BC) that was said to be legendary. Shi poetry was said to be created during the Han Dynasty be a scholar named Zhang Heng (78-138 AD). This scholar was also responsible for the creation of a hydraulic-powered armillary sphere and the seismometer that can detect earthquakes that struck hundreds of killometers away. Other notable Chinese creations introduced during the Han Dynasty were paper, winnowing machines, and the manipulation of metals. Chinese at that time learned how to highly durable metal of steel from wrought iron and cast iron. "Culture, society, and technology"
A Replica of Zhang Heng's seismometer
(http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/astronomy/tianimage/ZhangHengSeismograph6533crw.jpg)
(http://hua.umf.maine.edu/China/astronomy/tianimage/ZhangHengSeismograph6533crw.jpg)
The economy during the Han period had increased rapidly due to the discovery of a new trade route called the Silk Road in , which stretched all the way to the Mediterranean sea through central Asia to the Roman Empire. With this discovery, the Chinese were able to do business across countries, and since the demands for Chinese goods (silk, porcelain, paper, gunpowder) were so high, the economy had never been better. The Silk Road had also increased the communication between the east and the west. From contacts with the Kushan Empire led to an introduction of a new religion, Buddhism, which came from India. "Silk Road"
The Silk Road extending from Europe through Central Asia to China
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Silk_Route_extant.JPG)
The Silk Road extending from Europe through Central Asia to China(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Silk_Route_extant.JPG)
Reasons for Fall
The Han empire turned into the Three Kingdoms
(http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/bender4/eall131/EAHReadings/module02/imageforcontent/threekingdom.jpg)
Bibliography
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Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Emergence of Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Sovereigns Han Dynasty."Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Government of the Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Han_Dynasty.
"Culture, Society, and Technology of Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.
14 Jan. 2008. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Culture.2C_society.2C_and_technology.
"Silk Road." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_road.
"End of Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_Han_Dynasty.
After the reign of Emperor Zhang (78-88 AD), the Han dynasty fell into a struggle for power inside the palace. Neither group was able to solve the problems about harsh conditions of peasants, which cause revolts to spring up. In the year 189 AD, a warlord named Dong Zhou gained control over the politics of the Han Dynasty and the empire and its foundation were all stripped into regions in which different warlords gained control a particular piece of land. From all the warlords, Cao Cao led an army with hopes of gathering the land into a empire of his own. However, he was defeated in a battle by another warlord named Sun Quan, who established a kingdom for himself. Eventually, Cao Cao's heir Cao Pi forced Emperor Xian to abdicate and also established a kingdom of his own in the year 220 AD. Another warlord named Liu Bei also took up some land and turned it into a kingdom. This marked the fall of the Han Dynasty and the new period of the Three Kingdoms.
The Han empire turned into the Three Kingdoms(http://people.cohums.ohio-state.edu/bender4/eall131/EAHReadings/module02/imageforcontent/threekingdom.jpg)
Bibliography
"Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008. W
ikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Xiang Yu." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Emergence of Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Sovereigns Han Dynasty."Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
"Government of the Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_Han_Dynasty.
"Culture, Society, and Technology of Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.
14 Jan. 2008. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_dynasty#Culture.2C_society.2C_and_technology.
"Silk Road." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_road.
"End of Han Dynasty." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Jan. 2008.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 15 Jan. 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_Han_Dynasty.
