Give Us a Han, Please

A: Take it on the Qin

The Fall of the Qin

While Qin Shi Huangdi's policies unified China, they also created resentment and anger amongst peasants, scholars, and nobles.

Though powerful enough to hold the country together, shortly after Qin Shi Huangdi's death, the country and government began to fall apart. Rebel forces organized across the country, each one claiming to have the "Mandate of Heaven." One such group attacked the Qin capital and the new emperor surrendered. The palace was burned to the ground and the central government disappeared. With no central government, the country fell into chaos through civil war.

B: I've got to Han it to you...

When the Qin dynasty collapsed, several different groups battled for power.

After several years of fighting, an army led by Liu Bang won control. Liu Bang became the first emperor of the Han dynasty. This Chinese dynasty lasted for more than 400 years!

From Legalism to Confucianism

Over time, the Han emperors began to change the way China was ruled. Rather than rule harshly using Legalism, as the Qin had done, Han rulers gradually incorporated Confucian ideals of moral behavior into Chinese government.

Under Han rule, a "golden age" emerged: a period of stability and wealth. Education, literature, art, and culture flourished. New practices, inventions, and ideas were allowed to develop and thrive.

C: Han-dling the situation

If YOU were there...

You are a young Chinese student from a poor family. Your family has worked hard to give you a good education so that you can get a government job and have a great future. Your friends laugh at you. They say that only boys from wealthy families win the good jobs. They think it is better to join the army.