From quite Humble Beginnings
The first emperor of the Han dynasty actually came from quite humble beginnings. Liu Bang was born a peasant in Pei County, then still under the strict rule of the Qins. He joined the rebellion against the Qin dynasty and rose in the ranks to become one of the leaders in the rebellion. After the Qins were overthrown, Liu Bang and a rival warlord Xiang Yu fought for the now ruler-less land of China. In a long war, known as the Chu-Han War, in which Liu Bang emerged victorious. With his ascension to the throne, Liu Bang established many things, of them the Han dynasty (202 BCE-220 AD) and a strong government that not only lasted 400 years, but also a strong government that helped the people.
cONFUCIAN cOLLEGES
One thing the Han government did that helped the people was establish the first
Confucian colleges. The emperor Han Wudi (R. 141 BCE - 87 BCE) did so to keep the
old aristocrats, who posed as a threat to the emperors, off the court, while
the Confucian scholars were loyal because they were taught to be so through
Confucius's teachings. As the emperors might have had other means for forming
Confucian colleges, this Confucian scholars definitely helped the people. The
Confucian colleges educate the scholars on the ideas created by Confucius,
as suggested by the name given to these colleges. Confucius taught that
people should respect and love each other, and that an orderly society would ultimately bring peace to the world. The scholars would, given these teachings, advise the emperors with things that would actually help maintain a stable society and things that were geared towards the people.
Confucian colleges. The emperor Han Wudi (R. 141 BCE - 87 BCE) did so to keep the
old aristocrats, who posed as a threat to the emperors, off the court, while
the Confucian scholars were loyal because they were taught to be so through
Confucius's teachings. As the emperors might have had other means for forming
Confucian colleges, this Confucian scholars definitely helped the people. The
Confucian colleges educate the scholars on the ideas created by Confucius,
as suggested by the name given to these colleges. Confucius taught that
people should respect and love each other, and that an orderly society would ultimately bring peace to the world. The scholars would, given these teachings, advise the emperors with things that would actually help maintain a stable society and things that were geared towards the people.
monopolization of salt and Iron
Social structure
Along with founding the first Confucian colleges and monopolizing the salt and iron industries, the Han dynasty also
created an orderly social hierarchy, which stabilized the people's everyday lives and set forth for them a role in society
and where they stood. On top of the hierarchy the emperor, aristocrats, and scholars. Below them were the farmers, who
were respected because of the society's reliance on them to produce the food. Under the farmers were the artisans and
craftsmen, who created goods such as swords and jewelry for the the wealthy. Below them were the slaves and servants.
The merchants belonged in the same class as the servants and were viewed as lowly by the scholars. Registered merchants
were required to wear white to show their lowly status.
created an orderly social hierarchy, which stabilized the people's everyday lives and set forth for them a role in society
and where they stood. On top of the hierarchy the emperor, aristocrats, and scholars. Below them were the farmers, who
were respected because of the society's reliance on them to produce the food. Under the farmers were the artisans and
craftsmen, who created goods such as swords and jewelry for the the wealthy. Below them were the slaves and servants.
The merchants belonged in the same class as the servants and were viewed as lowly by the scholars. Registered merchants
were required to wear white to show their lowly status.
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bIBliography
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"Han Wudi." Ministry of Culture, P.R. China. Last modified 2003. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22864.htm.
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Totallyhistory.org. "Han Dynasty Social Structure." TotallyHistory. Last modified 2012. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-social-structure/.
Zhongshu, Dong. "From Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals: 'The Responsibilities of Rulership.'" In Asia for Educators, by Asia for Educators. 2009. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/cup/dongzhongshu_rulership.pdf.
"Han Wudi." Ministry of Culture, P.R. China. Last modified 2003. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_aboutchina/2003-09/24/content_22864.htm.
Johnson, Jean Elliott, and Donald James Johnson. The Human Drama World History: From the Beginning to 500 C.E. N.p.: Markus Wiener, 2006.
ThehanDynasty.com. "Han Dynasty Social Structure." The Han Dynasty. Accessed November 18, 2014. http://thehandynasty.com/han-dynasty-social-structure.html.
Totallyhistory.org. "Han Dynasty Social Structure." TotallyHistory. Last modified 2012. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-social-structure/.
Zhongshu, Dong. "From Luxuriant Gems of the Spring and Autumn Annals: 'The Responsibilities of Rulership.'" In Asia for Educators, by Asia for Educators. 2009. Accessed November 16, 2014. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/cup/dongzhongshu_rulership.pdf.