Intellectual Developments & Technology

Intellectual Developments &Technology

The Han dynasty inventions were some of the greatest contributions not only in the Chinese society but even across the globe. Some of the lesser known innovations developed during this period include the creation of the wheelbarrow and the seismograph. Stirrups were also believed to have been used first during this time. The first and perhaps the most popular is the invention of the paper making process during the Han dynasty. Although historians claim that the oldest piece of wrapping paper can be traced back to the Chinese during the 2nd BCE, the process of making paper was invented during the Han period. The eunuch Cai Lun was credited for this invention. His process used mulberry bark as the main ingredient. The invention of cast iron tools can also be credited to the people of the Han dynasty. This resulted in vastly improved weapons, tools and domestic wares. More importantly, it paved the way for the creation of new agricultural tools which in turn helped increase the agricultural tax revenue of the empire. Also the Han dynasty, credited for inventing the loom, set the tone for silk weaving during that era. It was because of their invention that silk could be marketed as an expensive piece of article. Their science of weaving also paved the way for the creation of the Silk Road. This meant increased revenue for the people of the Han dynasty.The Han dynasty inventions are solid proof of the intellectual prowess of the Han dynasty people.

Works Cited:

Invention of Paper in China. 2007. Photograph. History of ChinaWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <http://www.history-of-china.com/han-dynasty/invention-of-paper.html>.

Demography

Demography

 



The Chinese economy grew rapidly and by the 2^nd century AD the population had reached 58 million.

Economy

Economy

The economy during the Han dynasty was defined by population growth, growth of industries as well as trade and nationalization. New inventions and the bloom of art also contributed to the increase in trading during that period. During the beginning of the Han dynasty, the economy was badly damaged due to the policies of the former dynasty. Emperors of the Han dynasty abated this by abolishing Qin dynasty’s suppressive policies and lowering the taxes imposed on peasants and merchants. But perhaps the greatest contributor, to the Han dynasty economy’s affluence was the silk trade and the opening up of the Silk Road. The invention of the loom enabled silk to be produced and traded to the western people through the Silk Road. Silk was even used as a currency and a tribute to the nomads of the northwestern steppe. During the later parts of the Han era however, economic and political crises began to plague the dynasty and the government became heavily decentralized eventually leading to the fall of the Han economy.


Works Cited:

Ancient Money. 1998. Photograph. KidipedeWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/economy/money.htm>.

Politics

Politics

The Han dynasty government was largely characterized by a combination of feudal structures and central bureaucracy. The emperor was the head of the government. He was responsible for creating laws, heading the armed forces as its commander-in-chief and serving as the chief executive official. The Han dynasty’s imperial government system was patterned after its predecessor, the Qin dynasty. A central control was established, meaning that the emperors had full control over all of China. In theory, the powers of the emperor were absolute and unlimited. The emperors had three councilors of state, the Chancellor over the Masses, the Imperial Counselor and the Grand Commandant. Each of the counselor’s main duty was to draft the government budget, conduct disciplinary procedures for government officials and to command and the military, respectively. There were then nine ministers, each of them assigned to head a specialized ministry.The makers of the Han dynasty were credited with being the first politicians in Chinese history to develop a system of training and educating future administration officials.

 

Works Cited:

 

History of China. N.d. Photograph. CrystalinksWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <http://www.crystalinks.com/chinahistory.html>.

Social Developments

Social Developments

 

 

The society of the Han Dynasty is highly structured with a clear definition of each social class. Han China was comprised of a three-tiered system. Aristocrats, Bureocrats, and the Emperor were at the top of hierachy. The emperor being at the very top. Skilled Laborers such as farmers and iron workers were next. The bottom tier consisted of unskilled workers such as servants and slaves. The Han dynasty social structure influenced China's social structure long after it ended.

 

 

If you would like to find out in more detail about these social classes, you may visit this website:

 

http://totallyhistory.com/han-dynasty-social-structure/

Arts

Arts
                                                                   
The Han dynasty is notable for its concentration on organized ceramic production. Mass-produced functional vessels, some stamped with place names and government offices, suggest that a true nationwide industry had come into existence and that some ceramic workshops were already state controlled. Molds aided tremendously in the manufacture of identical vessels, but the most important technical innovation was the development of lead glazing. These low-fired glazes were colored with copper to produce green, or iron to create yellow or brown. The toxicity of lead however meant that these new glazes were best suited to mortuary pottery rather than daily use.



Works Cited:

 

Han Dynasty Ceramics. 1915. Photograph.

Minneapolis Institute of ArtsWeb. 7 Oct 2012.

<http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/introduction/>.

Religion, Belief, Values

Religion, Belief, Values


Religion played a great role in shaping the rule of those in power. The influences of the Han dynasty religions spread long after the dynasty had ended. Several forms of religion dominated China during the Han period, including Ancient Worship, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Ancient Worship was created long before the Han dynasty but, some parts still practiced it. The emperor worshiped his ancestors through costly burials, and families all throughout China made ritual sacrifices not only to the deities and spirits but also to their ancestors. The emperor was expected to revere Heaven and Earth, the Great Unity and the deities and spirits of the seasons. It was a tradition for the emperor to climb Mount Tai to give offerings to Heaven and Earth.Taoism however was the main religion of the Han dynasty. Taoism emphasized living in harmony with the Tao. Buddhism was also a popular religion in the Han dynasty around 1st Century CE. Confucianism, on the other hand, was more of a philosophy rather than a Han dynasty religion but it also ruled China for almost 2000 years. It was during the Han dynasty that China first embraced Confucianism. Despite it not being a religion, it became one of the most important ideological beliefs during that era.

Works Cited:

RELIGIONS OF ANCIENT CHINA CONFUCIANISM AND TAOISM. 2012. Photograph. Tradebit: The Digital MarketplaceWeb. 7 Oct 2012. <http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/116873126-religions-of-ancient-china-confucianism-and-taoism>.