Han Dynasty

By: Loudon Hasler, Isaac Leifeld, Jaide Imblum, Courtney

McDowell, and Shelbie Kellogg Shelbie Kellogg

Origins of the Empire and Dynasty

206 BCE- 220 CE
One of longest major Chinese dynasties

Emperor Gaozu was first Emperor

Was minor official in previous Qin Dynasty

Emperor Gaozu established capital Changan

All major roads converged here

Han Dynasty came to power after 4 year civil wars from uprising of
peasants

Major Religious Beliefs & Institutions

Many different religions were prominent during this dynasty.
These religions included Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.
Although the main faith of the Han Dynasty is believed to be
Taoism because it was founded within this dynasty.
Taoism is the belief of opposites, this is where the yin yang sign
originates from.

Major Religious Beliefs & Institutions

Confucianism was the philosophical side of the religion.
Taoism helped to created prominent ways of thinking.
Became one of the biggest ideological beliefs of the era.
The religion ruled China for almost two thousand years and came
into the picture first in the Han Dynasty.

Major Religious Beliefs & Institutions

Taoism is not an organized practice therefore it is not practiced
specifically in a temple or church or any other religious institution.
As Taoism does not believe in any Gods, Many Taoists worship the
creator of the faith, Lao-tzu and his teachings along with other
major teachers of the faith.

Major Cities
Luoyang
Eastern Han dynasty (25220 A.D.)
four square miles
located in Henan Province (present day)
dominated by two large palaces (used for trading, meetings,
etc.)
Changan
Constructed by Emperor Gaozu

Reasons for Collapse/Loss of Power

End of 1st century - emperors were dying off young, and power was
passed down to infants, which means that the guardians basically
had the power
Natural disasters were thought of as cause by the heavens during
this time
Eunuchs became a powerful group in politics - caused
protests/uprisings
Yellow Turban Rebellion - threatened imperial capital

Liu Xie, a child, became the new ruler, but the real power was in the
hands of Dong Zhou

Economy
The economy was defined by population growth,and growth of
industry and trade.
Economy mostly successful, small decline however
New inventions and explosion in art contributed to economy
Previous dynasty damaged economy
Heavy taxes on peasants
Great Wall damaged economy

Han dynasty took away taxes on peasants

Encouraged peasants to start growing more plants

Expansion
Main goal was to unite China.
Emperor Wudi led military campaigns to
gain territory during an era of military
development.
Mostly expanded Southward.
Did have a reasonable expansion North too.

Gained some of modern day Southern

China.
Expanded into parts of Mongolia, Central
Asia, and parts of Korea.

Bibliography
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"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Han Dynasty (206 B.C.220 A.D.). N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2015.
"The Chinese Han Dynasty Economy & Economic Structures." Totally History Han Dynasty Economy Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 11
Nov. 2015.
"The Han Dynasty." Untitled Document. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
"Han Dynasty." Han Dynasty. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.