Culture

Siobhan Cooper, Student Writer

                An important part of the Han Dynasty’s culture was the literature. It was successful because of the invention of paper. People were soon writing down the history of China and recording it for people to find later on. By doing this, it has helped people learn more about China. Also, literature helped with inventions. Since literature flourished, people were able to communicate better and would be able to use that communication to work together. With that, people were inventing new machines such as the loom. Because the loom was invented, silk was being woven and in which was traded. The silk was able to be traded for money. With the help of literature, the Han Dynasty prospered. Another part of the Han Dynasty’s culture was the arts. Before pure letters, people used to use calligraphy and paintings to communicate. When ceramics and pottery were developed many people stopped using calligraphy and paintings. People would make pots, pans or anything they needed for their afterlife to put in their tombs. Culture was important to the Han Dynasty and it also helped them prosper.

This is literature the Han Dynasty used. It helped the people communicate better because they used to use symbols and paintings. (http://www.china-guide.com/poetry/poetry.htm)

This is pottery used in the Han Dynasty. People would make things that they would need on their journey to the afterlife. (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/western.htm)

Picture Collage



This is the ranking system of the Han Dynasty. It helps the government stay organized.



This is pottery from the Han Dynasty. It is a form of art work which was important to the culture.

This is a compass. It is one of the achievments the Han Dynasty had.

This is the Great Wall of China. It was built for protection from outside enemies.

This is Liu Bang. He founded the Han Dynasty in 206 B.C. If he had not lived, there would not be a Han Dynasty.

Han Dynasty Map

By Siobhan C, Student Writer

                   

http://clccharter.org/brendan1/Acient%20Civilazations/China/Han%20Dynasty/handynasty.html

A major geographic feature of the Han Dynasty was the Yellow River. After it would flood many fields, those fields would be changed into fertile lands. Since the river would flood, the soil would be good for farming on. Also, soldiers of the Han Dynasty went and expanded their territories south and east by conquering many provinces around them. The development of the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty helped the agriculture grow. This also helped make it easier to trade and it also helped exchange ideas between cultures. Another feature was the Great Wall. It was built so it would protect the Han Dynasty from attacks from the north.

The Han Dynasty Is Good

By Siobhan C, Student Writer

                The Han Dynasty was good because its economy had been successful. “The productivity of industry was greatly improved”. Since the productivity of industry had improved, more work was able to get done. With industries, people started to invent new machines such as the Shui Pai. This invention helped with iron smelting. With this device, the metallurgical industry was successful. “The extractions of copper, bronze-ware manufacturing and silk-making industry were developed”. With copper, bronze and silk-making industries, the Han Dynasty prospered. The Han Dynasty was good because these industries and inventions made the capitol, Luoyang, the national business center.

                The Han Dynasty was also good because culture had been successful. “Literature also became an integral part of the Han dynasty culture as it flourished greatly during this era mainly because of the invention of paper”. People used to use calligraphy and paintings to communicate but after the invention of paper, people started to use poetry to communicate instead. Literature made it easier for people to communicate with each other. Also, literature helped the historian, Sima Qian, to write the Book of History, which was the first account of Chinese history . The Han Dynasty is good because without the invention of paper, literature would not have been used so people would not have been able to write. If people couldn’t write, people today would not have been able to know about the Chinese history. The Han Dynasty is also good because science had been successful as well. Progress had been made in astronomy. Zhang Heng was an astronomer who helped make science prosper. Zhang Heng invented equipment that was made to test earthquakes. Also, a surgeon named Hua Tuo made achievements in medicine. Hua Tuo started using anesthetic techniques in operations . The Han Dynasty is good because with achievements in science, the Han Dynasty had new techniques and equipment to help the dynasty prosper. (http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/eastern.htm) 
 (http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-culture/)

The Han Dynasty

By Siobhan C, Student Writer

The Eastern Han Dynasty was in power from 25 to 220 A.D. It was established by Liu Xiu and was ruled from the new capital of Luoyang. Liu Xiu had gotten the throne because he defeated Wang Mang, from the Western Han Dynasty. He then established the Eastern Han Dynasty. In his second year of ruling, Liu Xiu revised and made changes to all of the policies that Wang Mang had set while he was still ruling. After that, the middle period of the first century was the most prosperous time for the Eastern Han Dynasty. The economy, scientific and cultural development had prospered more than it had in the Western Han Dynasty. These developments helped the Han Dynasty prosper.

The Economy prospered because in the early period, irrigation work was focused on by the government. When the Yellow River used to flood, many fields would be changed into fertile lands. There was also a new invention called the Shui Pai. This helped the productivity of the metallurgical industry. Also, copper, bronze-ware manufacturing and a silk-making industry were developed as well.  Science and culture prospered because in 105 A.D., a court official improved the method of making paper. Astronomy also prospered with new equipment. A famous astronomer, Zhang Heng, invented equipment that helped testing for earthquakes. New ways to use medicine was invented as well. Hua Tuo was a surgeon who started to use anesthetic techniques in operations. Lastly, people stopped using calligraphy and paintings to communicate, and instead they used poetry.

Even though the Eastern Han Dynasty prospered, there was a dark period in time. During this time, the rulers at the throne were too young to rule. This then led to their relatives and eunuchs taking power. Because of this act, farmers began to rebel against their rulers. In 184 A.D., a Hebei farmer rebelled and this caused the royalty’s power to be given to the eunuchs. This then led to the courts being in great chaos. From 189 to 220 A.D., the last emperor, Emperor Xian, was in power. During his reign, the disloyal court official, Dong Zhuo, dominated the royalty. Soon, Cao Cao finally seized power. His second son, Cao Pi, demanded that Emperor Xian had to give up his position as ruler. This then caused the Eastern Han Dynasty to fall.