The Han Dynasty 206 B'C'E 220 C'E

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The Han Dynasty 206 B.C.E 220 C.E

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Did you know??

• The achievements of the Han Dynasty so influenced
  Chinese culture that the Chinese word for
  Chinese Person is a person of Han
• Thats pretty amazing!
• But who founded this great empire???...

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Liu Bang (pronounced Leo-Bong)

• Founder of Han Dynasty
• Very talented and skillful ruler
• Qin Dynasty collapsed in 206 B.C.E
• Defeated many of the various groups fighting for
  power after Qin Shi Huangdis death.
• Poor family background One of only two
  commoners ever to found a Chinese Dynasty.
• Became known as Han Gaozu (which means the Great
  Ancestral Father of Han)

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The Han establishes

• During the Han dynasty peace, prosperity
  stability
• Han emperors created strong military
• Conquered territories as far as modern day Korea
  and North Vietnam (map)
• Created diplomatic alliances with neighboring
  countries
• Often through strategic marriages or the exchange
  of lavish peasants

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The Han establishes more

• Trade silk, spices, jade
• Acquired new ideas and products
• Ex. Buddhism from India
• These trade posts will become the building
  blocks for the Silk Road in later centuries

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Han Achievements

• Education, culture, and service.
• Shifted away from Legalist philosophy of Qin to a
  more Confucian system of government
• Government officials chosen based on merit rather
  than by birth
• Scholars who knew Confucian beliefs became
  officials who enforced Han laws and collected
  taxes.
• Encouraged Confucian education which allowed more
  general public to participate.

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Other Han Achievements

• Promoted the development of the arts
• Paper was invented, painting and calligraphy
  flourished, fine porcelain was created.
• Promoted the advancement of Science technology
• Invention of water clocks, star maps, and
  compasses (The First on the Planet)
• Increased Trade and Communication by building new
  roadways and waterways.
• While Han rulers struggled at times to maintain
  control over their LARGE empire, Han society
  remained basically intact for 400 years.

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