Changes

The Han empire or dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D 220, with only a brief interruption from A.D. 6-23) built on the foundation of the Qin dynasty, extending the walls and roads.  Liu Bang was the first Han ruler, and imposed a centralized government that was stable for many years.  Empress Lu was a woman who seized power from 195-180 B.C. and then installed her sons as emperors while they were still infants.  Han Wudi (141-87 B.C.) was the longest serving Han ruler.  He was known for appointing efficient provincial administrators.

The Han empire or dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D 220, with only a brief interruption from A.D. 6-23) built on the foundation of the Qin dynasty, extending the walls and roads.  Liu Bang was the first Han ruler, and imposed a centralized government that was stable for many years.  Empress Lu was a woman who seized power from 195-180 B.C. and then installed her sons as emperors while they were still infants.  Han Wudi (141-87 B.C.) was the longest serving Han ruler.  He was known for appointing efficient provincial administrators.

The Han dynasty expanded the territory of China into Vietnam and Korea, and administered the country from a centralized and organized civil service.  This was the most significant of all Chinese dynasties, and is compared by historians to the Pax Romana period in the Roman empire.  The Han dynasty was also the longest of the Chinese dynasties.  It highly valued education, and even created a scholar class of people known as “shi”.  Historians criticize the Han dynasty, however, for treating women in an inferior manner.

The Han dynasty expanded the territory of China into Vietnam and Korea, and administered the country from a centralized and organized civil service.  This was the most significant of all Chinese dynasties, and is compared by historians to the Pax Romana period in the Roman empire.  The Han dynasty valued education highly, and even created a scholar class of people known as “shi”.  Historians criticize the Han dynasty, however, for treating women in an inferior manner.

The Han dynasty developed the famous Silk Road: 5,000 miles of interconnected roads linking China to the Mediterranean region, which enabled trade in silk and fine goods to greatly increase.  Buddhism spread widely along the Silk Road, promoted both by traders and Buddhist monks, and reached China in A.D. 100.  A new religion designed to appeal to merchants, Manichaeism (named after its founder Mani (A.D. 216-272)), also spread to Turkish nomads by teaching self-denial and acceptance of both Buddha and Jesus as prophets.   

The Han dynasty developed the famous Silk Road: 5,000 miles of interconnected roads linking China to the Mediterranean region, which enabled trade in silk and fine goods to greatly increase.  Buddhism spread widely along the Silk Road, promoted both by traders and Buddhist monks, and reached China in A.D. 100.  A new religion designed to appeal to merchants, Manichaeism (named after its founder Mani (A.D. 216-272)), also spread to Turkish nomads by teaching self-denial and acceptance of both Buddha and Jesus as prophets.