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Han Dynasty of Ancient China. Liu Bang - Founder of the Han Dynasty. http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/han_dynasty.php. started when the peasants killed the Qin emperor in a revolt Liu Bang fought against Xiang Yu for power and won he changed his name to Han Gaozu
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Han Dynasty of Ancient China Liu Bang - Founder of the Han Dynasty http://www.ducksters.com/history/china/han_dynasty.php
started when the peasants killed the Qin emperor in a revolt • Liu Bang fought against Xiang Yu for power and won • he changed his name to Han Gaozu • dynasty ran from 206 B.C. to 220 A.D. • sometimes called the Golden Age of China • an era of peace and prosperity • one of the first things Han did was establish the civil service: • * he gathered a bunch of educated men to help him run the • empire • * he made sure men went to school before they could help • run the government
paper was invented, which allowed the government to keep records • they invented an instrument that could predict earthquakes • acupuncture was invented • people painted, made pottery, and created new literature • the teachings of Confucius were once again honored • later emperors started schools for boys • educated people had jobs • 10% of the people lived in cities, which had markets and entertainment
most people lived in the country and were farmers • the poor: • * lived in houses packed together • * had little food or sanitation • * they wore clothes made of scratchy cloth and straw • sandals • * young males joined street gangs which terrorized people • the rich: • * wanted to imitate the palace by building large homes and • fancy tombs with the prices listed on the items place in • the tomb • * children were tutored • * they wore fur and silk
the Silk Road was established, which was a trade route from China to Europe • this brought much wealth to China • merchants were not well-respected, but became rich from trade on the Silk Road • the social class had 20 levels, with merchants toward the bottom and craftsmen, doctors, and farmers toward the top • Buddhism was first introduced to China during this time • punishments used during the Qin dynasty remained in place for the lower classes • people of the higher classes were judged according to Confucius teachings
the poor were the most heavily taxed • another group of peasants, called the Yellow Turbans, tried to overthrow the Han ruler • the empire was able to defeat them, but not before it was separated into three kingdoms, thus ending the Han Dynasty • there were 26 emperors during the Han Dynasty