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Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)

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Revision as of 18:43, 17 December 2023 by CJReplay (talk | contribs) (Updated capitalization and added links)
Han
202 BCE–220 CE
The Han Dynasty in 2 CE with the Western protectorate in light green
The Han Dynasty in 2 CE with the Western protectorate in light green
Dominant mode of productionFeudalism
GovernmentMonarchy
Area
• Total
6,500,000 km²
Population
• 2 CE estimate
57,671,400


The Han dynasty was the second dynasty of imperial China founded in 206 BCE as the successor of the Qin dynasty. Liu Pang, a peasant rebel who overthrew the Qin dynasty, became its first emperor.[1]

History

In 17 CE, following flooding in the Yellow River valley, Mother Lü led a rebellion that established two independent kingdoms. The Taoist Yellow Turbans led another rebellion in 184 with 360,000 armed supporters.[2]

Government

The first Han emperor banned merchants and their descendants from serving in government. The government taxed trade more than agriculture, and Emperor Wu, who ruled for 54 years, seized merchants' property.[2]

Economy

Classes

The Han dynasty's measures against the merchants did not significantly improve life for the peasants. They had to give a third to a half of their harvest to lords and often starved if harvests were bad.[2]

Means of production

The Han dynasty developed steel and wheelbarrows by the second century CE, over 1,000 years before Europe.[2]

References

  1. Neil Faulkner (2013). A Marxist History of the World: From Neanderthals to Neoliberals: 'Ancient Empires' (p. 36). [PDF] Pluto Press. ISBN 9781849648639 [LG]
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chris Harman (1999). A People's History of the World: 'Iron and empires' (pp. 57–61). [PDF] London: Bookmarks Publications Ltd. ISBN 9781898876557 [LG]