Describe the fall of the Han Dynasty. Be sure to include political, economic, social, and outside reasons for their fall. [SB, ECON, SOC]
THE HAN DYNASTYThe Han Dynasty was one of the longest and most influential out of all in Chinese history. With Liu Bang as the start of the Han Dynasty, it lasted for more than four hundred years, from 206 B.C.E. to 220 C.E., although for a brief period (9–23 C.E.) a usurper temporarily displaced the Han rule. Han dynasty’s long period of stability and prosperity was what strengthened the foundation of China as a unified state.
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THE FALL OF THE HAN DYNASTY
(Caption shows when mouse is put over the maps)
The map on the left shows China at the time of Han Wudi, and how it changed to the map on the right, which is the division of China after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It shows the significant change of how the lands changed due to the collapse of the Han Dynasty. |
The collapse of the Han Dynasty occurred as the result of internal conflict, including factors such as political corruption, economic instability, and unsupportable population growth, which caused it to end in 220 C.E.
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REASONS FOR THE FALL OF THE HAN DYNASTY
INTERNAL CONFLICTS [SB]
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INCREASED GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR [SB,SOC,ECON]
Rich and powerful landowners took advantage of the large number of unemployed farmers and former military soldiers by using them to reduce their own share of taxes and shifting the burden onto the peasants.
- Dynasty was getting weaker, being unable to tax many of its subjects, losing the power to enforce taxation on land owners.
- Caused central government to increase the levels of taxation that it imposed on the people that it could control: the peasants.
MANDATE OF HEAVEN [CUL]
- From the idea of Confucianism, the concept of "Mandate of Heaven" arose.
- The Mandate determines whether an emperor of China has the ability to rule.
- Belief that a country would have good fortune as long as the government had approval of the gods.
- If damaging events were to happen, the gods had withdrawn their approval of the government. (Emperor no longer has the obligation to rule)
There were a series of natural disasters including floods and famines that caused a burden to the agricultural areas of the country. The idea of Mandate of Heaven determined these disasters as a sign showing the gods no longer approved the Han Dynasty's rulers.
As people came to believe this, faith to the Han Dynasty faded, leading to their decline.
FORMAL ABOLISHMENT OF THE HAN DYNASTY
- Han generals increasingly overthrew political authority.
- By 190 C.E. the emperor became a puppet, and generals ruled the regions controlled by their armies.
- Generals formed alliances with wealthy landowners of their regions; established themselves as warlords.
- In 220 C.E. generals officially abolished the Han dynasty, and divided it into 3 kingdoms (Wei, Wu, Shu).
VIDEO SUMMARIZING THE FALL OF THE HAN DYNASTY
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First video is a full summary, and the second video focuses on outside and inside forces on the reasons for falls of civilization.
Self-Created Enhancement
The rise and fall of the Han Dynasty is a part of what makes China the country that it is today, being the dynasty to form the early civilization and cultures of China.
CITATIONS
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