10 Questions
What was Liu Bang's occupation before he became king of the Han people?
A minor official in the court of the Qin dynasty
Who did Liu Bang fight against to take over China?
General Xiang Yu
What was the philosophy that the Qin rulers followed?
Legalism
What was introduced to the government over time by Emperor Gaozu?
Confucianism
How long did the Han dynasty last?
About 400 years
What was the significant contribution of Emperor Wu Ti's reign?
Expansion of Han borders through military conquest
What was the name of the historian who wrote the Records of the Grand Historian?
Sima Qian
What led to the downfall of the Eastern Han dynasty?
Economic troubles and natural disasters
What was the name of the group that led the rebellion against the Han dynasty in 184 CE?
The Yellow Turbans
Who seized power and ruled the Han dynasty in practice during its final years?
Dong Zhou
Study Notes
The Han Dynasty Begins
- Liu Bang, a commoner, plotted against the brutal Qin rule and became king of the Han people in 206 BCE.
- He defeated the Qin forces led by Xiang Yu and was crowned Emperor Gaozu of the Han dynasty in 202 BCE, marking the beginning of a 400-year dynasty that brought prosperity and advancement to China.
Han Government
- Initially, the Han government resembled the Qin rule, with the emperor claiming absolute power and following legalism.
- Over time, Confucianism was introduced, which emphasized morality, duty to society, and individual virtue, moderating the harshness of legalism.
Han High Point
- The Han dynasty reached its high point under Emperor Wu Ti (141-87 BCE), marked by:
- Military conquest and expansion, including the defeat of the Xiongnu people and the expansion of borders from Korea to Vietnam.
- Establishment of the Silk Road, facilitating trade and cultural contact with the Mediterranean region.
- Invention of paper by Cai Lun in 105 CE.
- Writing of the Shiji (Records of the Grand Historian) by historian Sima Qian, a seminal work on Chinese history and legend.
- Establishment of a national university teaching Confucianism and promotion of education.
A Dynasty Interrupted
- Wang Mang, a power-hungry nephew of a widowed empress, seized the throne in 9 CE, establishing the Xin dynasty.
- Wang Mang's rule was eventually overthrown by Liu Xiu, a descendant of Liu Bang, who re-established the Han dynasty as the Eastern Han dynasty.
The Eastern Han Dynasty
- The Eastern Han dynasty lasted nearly 200 years, marked by:
- Conquest of the Xiongnu people in 73 CE.
- Economic troubles, political conflicts, and natural disasters, leading to peasant rebellions.
- The rise of warlord Dong Zhou, who seized power and eventually led to the downfall of the Han dynasty in 220 CE.
Test your knowledge on the rise of Liu Bang and the beginning of the Han Dynasty in ancient China. Learn about Liu Bang's journey from a commoner to becoming king and seizing control of the empire.
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