Government
History
The Han Dynasty was one of the longest lasting imperial dynasties of China. Liu Bang was the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, and took part in the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty. He emphasized ruling "fairly" and making the people's lives relatively easy. The Han Dynasty was divided into four parts: the Former Han (206 BCE-8 CE), the Later Han (25 CE-220 CE), the Eastern Han and the Western Han. There was a brief period where the reign of the Han Dynasty was interrupted by the Xin Dynasty, but was quickly taken back.
The Han Dynasty was one of the longest lasting imperial dynasties of China. Liu Bang was the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, and took part in the rebellion against the Qin Dynasty. He emphasized ruling "fairly" and making the people's lives relatively easy. The Han Dynasty was divided into four parts: the Former Han (206 BCE-8 CE), the Later Han (25 CE-220 CE), the Eastern Han and the Western Han. There was a brief period where the reign of the Han Dynasty was interrupted by the Xin Dynasty, but was quickly taken back.
Economy
The Han founded a stable monetary system, and coin circulation greatly increased. In the capital cities, the government set up workshops that produced goods for the people, as well as luxuries for the emperor. It also built many roads and bridges to connect the huge empire. Although merchants were not considered of a high class, they flourished in this period because of the Silk Road. Peasants suffered because of rich landowners gaining control of the land, even though the government provided some financial aid.
The government established a monopoly on salt and iron in the Han Dynasty. This benefited the traders of the economy, but not the farmers. Even though many goods and riches were brought into the country, this was not something that benefited the people of China. As the monopoly continued, it became evident that it led to famine and drought, since farmers were suffering.
The Han founded a stable monetary system, and coin circulation greatly increased. In the capital cities, the government set up workshops that produced goods for the people, as well as luxuries for the emperor. It also built many roads and bridges to connect the huge empire. Although merchants were not considered of a high class, they flourished in this period because of the Silk Road. Peasants suffered because of rich landowners gaining control of the land, even though the government provided some financial aid.
The government established a monopoly on salt and iron in the Han Dynasty. This benefited the traders of the economy, but not the farmers. Even though many goods and riches were brought into the country, this was not something that benefited the people of China. As the monopoly continued, it became evident that it led to famine and drought, since farmers were suffering.
Philosophy
The Han Dynasty government was generally based on legalism and confucianism. They had schools built around confucian ways, and the Confucian ways of filial piety, ritual, and the five relationships. The order of society was also built off of confucian ways. The father was always at the top, then the mother, and then the children. The government was a bit like that. The emperor is like the father, all the other government positions were the mother, and all the locals were the children. The government of the Han Dynasty was generally run by Confucian laws, except when it came to keeping order and upholding order. That is were Legalism comes in.
The Han Dynasty government was generally based on legalism and confucianism. They had schools built around confucian ways, and the Confucian ways of filial piety, ritual, and the five relationships. The order of society was also built off of confucian ways. The father was always at the top, then the mother, and then the children. The government was a bit like that. The emperor is like the father, all the other government positions were the mother, and all the locals were the children. The government of the Han Dynasty was generally run by Confucian laws, except when it came to keeping order and upholding order. That is were Legalism comes in.
Bibliography
"A Record on the Debate of Salt and Iron." Accessed November 20, 2014.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/cup/debate_salt_iron.pdf.
"Philosophy and Art." Boundless. Accessed November 23, 2014.
https://www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-textbook/
chinese-and-korean-art-before-1279-14/han-dynasty-97/philosophy-and-art-460-5502/
"Chinese History-Han Dynasty." China Knowledge. Accessed November 23, 2014.
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/han.html.
Open Study (blog). Accessed November 23, 2014. http://openstudy.com/study#/
updates/50fed411e4b00c5a3be60
"A Record on the Debate of Salt and Iron." Accessed November 20, 2014.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/cup/debate_salt_iron.pdf.
"Philosophy and Art." Boundless. Accessed November 23, 2014.
https://www.boundless.com/art-history/textbooks/boundless-art-history-textbook/
chinese-and-korean-art-before-1279-14/han-dynasty-97/philosophy-and-art-460-5502/
"Chinese History-Han Dynasty." China Knowledge. Accessed November 23, 2014.
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Han/han.html.
Open Study (blog). Accessed November 23, 2014. http://openstudy.com/study#/
updates/50fed411e4b00c5a3be60