Tuesday, February 15, 2011

How long did the Han Dynasty last? How did it start and end?

Han Dynasty lasted from 206 BCE to 220 AD. It started when Liu Bang, prince of Han, defeated Qin army. It consisted of two dynasties: Western Han Dynasty(206 BCE to 24 AD) and Eastern Han Dynasty(25 AD to 220 AD). The Han Dynasty fell because of:
invaders from the northern part of China, political smuggles, the rich and poor gap, social problems, and food shortages, floods/droughts.

Who was the founder of the Han Dynasty?

The founder of the Han Dynasty was Liu Bang. He was commoner with no arist. He was also an unusual type of ruler in Ancient China, he ruled from 202 B.C. to 195 B.C.During this dynasty, China officially became a Confucian state, prospered domestically, and extended its political and cultural influence before finally collapsing under a mixture of domestic and external pressures. Han rule was interrupted briefly (in AD 9-24 by Wang Mang, a reformer), and then restored for another 200 years.

What makes the Han Dynasty different from other Dynasties?

The Han Dynasty government was not a harsh as ther government. Also they used the teaching of Legalism and Confucianism in both parts of Han China. The Han Dynasty rose to success by applying legalism as their set government. Throughout the successful years of the Han Dynasty, legalism proved to be a strict but prosperous government. Although legalism required the people to follow very strict laws and regulations it would prove to be the perfect form of government.

What was life in Han China like?

Jobs: Jobs were given to educated people, as well as nobles. People were paid for their work.
Life in the City: Only about 10% of the population (1 out of 10 people) lived in the cities. Cities were neatly laid out with main streets.
-The Poor: The poor lived in houses packed together. They had very little food, and little to no sanitation.
-The Rich:The rich lived in comfortable, large houses with many rooms and fireplaces. Each home was built around a central courtyard.
Life in the Country:They lived in one or two story mud houses with tiled or thatched roofs. They had curtains on the windows. Barns and other buildings surrounded the house. Several families lived in one house to allow them to work their fields together
Public Schools: boys only, taught by Confucian teachers. 

Friday, February 11, 2011

What was the Han Dynasty?

The Han Dynasty was a series of emperors of the same family who ruled ancient China for over 400 years. It was the second imperial dynasty of China. Han Dynasty lasted from 206 BCE to 220 AD. Han rule was interrupted briefly (in AD 9-24 by Wang Mang, a reformer), and then restored for another 200 years. The Han Dynasty rose to success by applying legalism as their set government.