Page 77 - All About History - Issue 56-17
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Bluffer’s Guide
THE HAN DYNASTY
What was it?
The Han dynasty governed China with only minor
interruption for 400 years. This era is considered a
golden age in Chinese history, with the state as powerful
and prestigious in East Asia as the Roman Empire was in
Europe. The dynasty presided over many scientific and
artistic advances, including ironwork that was 500 years
ahead of its time, the adoption of Confucianism as the state
philosophy and the invention of paper.
The Han united the Chinese heartland and expanded its
borders into Korea, northern Vietnam and Inner Mongolia.
Expeditions into Central Asia led to the establishment of
the Silk Road trade route, which would see the Chinese
trading as far as India, Persia, Greece and Rome. They also
extended the Great Wall and clashed regularly with the
nomadic people of Central Asia — particularly the Xiongnu.
The Han reign is usually referred to as either the Western
or Eastern Han, reflecting when the capital city was moved
east from Chang’an to Louyang in 25 CE. This followed the
brief usurpation of the throne by Wang Mang, whose rule
ended after he was killed in a peasant revolt that destroyed
Chang’an, forcing the Han to relocate after retaking power.
Why did it happen?
The emperor ruled as an absolute monarch, always
maintaining a large army to defend China’s border, but
the Han were not as oppressive as previous dynasties.
After the country was ravaged by war, they kept taxes low
so that peasants and merchants could prosper. When the
empire grew, state monopolies on salt, iron and alcohol
were declared to pay for new roads, benefiting everyone.
To prevent old aristocrats from gaining too much power,
the Han created Confucian colleges to train scholars to act
as their advisors instead. They were trained in Chinese
history, literature and Confucian teachings. The latter
emphasised filial piety and living harmoniously, so may
have contributed to the period’s stability.
The long stability of the Han dynasty also encouraged
Did a culture of innovation, leading to development in new
technologies like the invention of paper and ironwork. The
you know? latter led to better tools, which made farming easier and
ensured the empire’s growing population was well fed.
The Han name lives on
in the Han Chinese — Who was involved?
the world’s largest ethnic Emperor Gaozu
group, it numbers c.256 BCE – 195 BCE
over 1.3 billion The first Han came from a modest family, but
people. found power as a rebel leader that overthrew
the repressive Qin dynasty.
Emperor Wu
156 BCE – 87 BCE
The dynasty’s most influential emperor,
184 CE 220 CE
Wu embraced Confucianism, expanded the
empire and established the Silk Road.
After years of weak Emperor Xian is
government and forced to abdicate,
terrible famine, ending the Han Emperor Xian
the peasants rise dynasty. Wars 181 CE – 234 CE
up in the Yellow break out between The last Han emperor, Xian was a puppet
Turban Rebellion nobles and China
that takes the Han 21 will not unify again ruler for warlords. His forced abdication © Getty Images
years to put down. for another 350 years. ended the dynasty and broke up the empire.
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