Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty

The Han dynasty was the fifth major dynasty of China and was characterized by expansion and prosperity.

Fast Facts

Reign: 206 BC - 220 AD
Population exceeded 55 million¹
Followed: Qin Dynasty
Preceded: The Three Kingdoms
Officially instated Confucianism as a rule of law
Oversaw the establishment of the silk road
Developed a "tributary system" to control neighboring governments

Brief Background

The Han dynasty is today considered by many to be a time of extreme prosperity both commercially as well as intellectually and artistically. The Han rule at it peak extended its control over many of its neighbors, including Vietnam and Korea. In terms of government, the Han administration was split into two between a central and local bureaucracy.

Also of significance during this period is the decree by Emperor Wu that Confucianism] be made the official religion of the land. In addition, Emperor Wu sent dispatches to Europe along what eventually became known as the Silk Road as a result of these envoys.

Today many Chinese link themselves to this linage by classifying themselves as Han Chinese.

China | Han Fei | Sun Tzu | History of China

Categories

History | Asian History | China

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The Mahalo Top 7

Wikipedia: Han Dynasty
MacroHistory: China to the Fall of the Han Dynasty
Minnesota State University: Han Dynasty
Montgomery County Public Schools: Han Dynasty
Baltimore County Public Schools: The Han Dynasty
Minniapolis Institute of Art: Chinese Dynasty Guide: Han
National Geographic Magazine: "The Han Dynasty" (2004)

Han Dynasty Background and Causes

Former Han Dynasty

Wikipedia: Chang'an
Washington State University: Former Han Dynasty
Web Chronology Project: Western Han

Eastern Han Dynasty

Wikipedia: Luoyang
Washington State University: Later Han Dynasty
Web Chronology Project: Eastern Han

Government

Wikipedia: Government of the Han Dynasty
China Knowledge: Han Dynasty Government, Administration and Law
Quest for Peace: Han Government

Culture and Society

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Han Dynasty
Daoist Studies: A Short History of Daoism
China Knowledge: Han Dynasty Science, Technology and Inventions
China Knowledge: Chinese Literature: Shiji Records of the Grand Scribe
Indiana University: The Canonization of Confucian Learning in the Han Dynasty
People's Daily: "Jute Paper from Western Han Dynasty Discovered in Dunhuang" (2006)

Origins of the Silk Road

Wikipedia: Silk Road
UC Irvine: The Silk Road
Silk Road Foundation: Table of Contents
University of Washington: Silk Road Atlas

Han Dynasty Central Figures

Liu Bang

Wikipedia: Liu Bang
China Culture: Han Gaozu
Three Kingdoms History: Liu Bang (Gaozu or Gaodi)

Emperor Wu of Han

Wikipedia: Emperor Wu of Han China
Silk Road: Han Emperor Wu-ti
Web Chronology Project: Emperor Wu-ti
People's Daily: "Facts and Flaws Make up Epic TV Tales" (2005)

Dong Zhuo

Wikipedia: Dong Zhuo
Western Kentucky University: Diao Chan
Three Kingdoms History: Dong Zhuo

Han Dynasty Images and Media

Google Image Search: Han Dynasty
Yahoo! Image Search: Han Dynasty
Live Search Images: Han Dynasty
Flickr: Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty Books and Research

Center for Early Christian Studies: "Did Christianity Reach China in the Han Dynasty?" (538KB)
U.C. Irvine: "Slavery in China During the Former Han Dynasty" (1967) (110KB)
University of Maine: Han Dynasty Bibliography
Amazon: The Early Chinese Empires: Qin and Han

Han Dynasty Blogs and Message Boards

China History Forum: When Did Paper Replace Bamboos in China?
Above Top Secret: Romans in Han Dynasty
Ancient Civilization: Eastern Han Dynasty
Frog in a Well: Ancient Chinese Sex Advice

Han Dynasty Timeline

206 BC: Liu Bang is the first emperor of the Han Dynasty
145-90 BC: Sima Qian works on his Records of the Grand Historian
141 BC: Emperor Wu of Han takes control of the Han Dynasty
141 BC: Confucianism and the the examination system replaces Taoism
138 BC: Emperor Wu sends an envoy, Zhang Qian, opening the Silk Road
3 AD: Emperor Ping of Han introduces a national school system
9-24 AD: The Han Dynasty is briefly interrupted by the rule of Wang Mang
25 AD: Liu Xiu overthrows Wang Mang and establishes the Eastern Han Dynasty
50-121 AD: The eunuch, Cai Lun, leads the development of paper
78-139 AD: Zhang Heng invents the armillary sphere and seismometer
220 AD: Emperor Xian abdicates the throne, officially ending the Han Dynasty