Bibliography

Works Cited

Cai Lun. Ministry of Culture, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.  <http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_madeinchina/2005-06/28/content_70177.htm>.

China - Gunpowder. Charter School, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://fourriverscharter.org/projects/Inventions/pages/china_gunpowder.htm>.

China - Paper. Four Charter School, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://fourriverscharter.org/projects/Inventions/pages/china_paper.htm>.

Confucianism. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://totallyhistory.com/confucianism-during-the-han-dynasty/>.

East Asia Unit: Daily Life in the Han Dynasty. Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School of Coventry, n.d. Web. <http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/AncientChinaCurriculum/DailyLifeintheHanDynastyAssignment.htm>.

The Eastern Han Dynasty. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://totallyhistory.com/the-eastern-han-dynasty/>.

Encyclopedia Britannica, ed. Han Dynasty. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Enclopedia. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/253872/Han-dynasty>.

Four Great Inventions of Ancient China. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/focus/inventions.htm>.

Han Dynasty. Department of Asian Art, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013. <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/hand/hd_hand.htm>.

Paper and Its Uses. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. <http://www.paper.org.uk/information/factsheets/paper_and_its_uses.pdf>.

Chapter 24- The Silk Road

Gun Powder

Gun powder was mistakenly made during the Han Dynasty when the Chinese were trying to create a potion for immortal life. Gun powder was used in celebrations and for war. It excelled the Chinese in war to beat their enemies. At first it brought celebration with its explosions, bringing cheer to the crowd. Making the crowd filled with joy. It brought happiness.  It was used to scare people during the wars, then it was later discovered that if it is to close to someone they could die. Cannons would wipe out a group of people in one launch. With those machines, it took away the struggle of using catapults or battering rams when you could go through a wall with one shot. It could shoot from farther away with better coordination.The gunpowder exploded creating holes in the ground during the wars. The holes that these cannons created were great for hiding or people tripped into it and couldn't get out. Gunpowder was used in different ways that really did help China. 

Confucianism

During the Han Dynasty, Confucianism was the biggest religion. Confucianism was also a philosophy that was created by the philosopher Confucius.Confucianism believes everyone should reach harmony with the world. When someone with high authority was treating people well, it affected the lower class people to act the same way. This belief made it that people tried to reach that harmony with others. They tried to be kinder and have more respect. It gave people trust on one another. The religion set that not many rules would be put out. It gave the people more freedom but it also meant that the government had to set a good example so that the others would follow in their footsteps.
The Han Dynasty also had the religion Taoism. Taoism is similar to Confucianism. Taoism although focuses more on your individual spiritual self unlike Confucianism that focuses on moral life. This religion would make it harder for the people to be controlled. Since they were not afraid of death, they didn't care for much that was going to happen. It go out of control and be harder to put the country back in place. Both religions were considered good for the country. They were both big parts of it and probably affected daily life today.

The Invention Of Paper

If it wasn't for paper, our lives would be much different. It is a part of daily routines. Life would be tremendously difficult without it. Paper is used in things that isn't even noticed at times. Its used in tickets to got to places. It is in things we use for food. Homes include paper, wall paper, roofing, flooring, some furniture etc. Entertainment and education need paper. People still record things down on paper, they do their work on it. It's impossible to imagine the world without the invention of paper.

Paper was considered one of the most important things invented during the Han Dynasty. Paper was used to record the information, it was much easier to right on the paper than hard objects that were used to write on. Paper was invented so people had something easier to write on. Something that could be stored easily. Paper made it easier to develop China's civilization quicker.

Paper was created in 105 A.D by Cai Lun. He won wealth from his discovery, he then also became a part of the court. Chinese people weren't very fond of it but Cai knew that it would be a great advancement one day.It was first used to right down information for the government and trading. People before used to used tortoise shells, bones, bamboo slips, and silk. Bamboo trees were used very much. The Chinese took the most out of the bamboo that they could. These objects were fragile, hard to store. It was harder to find a place to store your writing objects, and when dropped bones or shells could easily break and your work destroyed.

Interview With Liu Xiu (Eastern Han Emperor)

Reporter: How were you able to take the throne from Wang Mang?


Liu Xiu: I knew that I needed to become known and respected by other people in the region. So that’s what I tried to do. I became popular with the troops, and I made my military not take away anything from the towns we captured, and that won the peasants respect. In the year AD 23, we were able to kill Wang Mang. Then the throne was won.

Reporter:  What did you do to reconstruct the country?


Liu Xiu: Well, we had to get rid of the Red Eyebrow Rebels first that were still going against us. When that was over the taxes were lowered, inappropriate laws that were not necessary were taken away. New laws were created, even one that released slaves. We fixed the irrigation, that would bring a development in agriculture, it helped the economy of China. It was decided that campaigns were held to help defending the borders around China.

Reporter: How did the country grow as you are emperor?


Liu Xiu: During my time so far, the country has grown very much. Our population has grown to immensely, millions of people. A population like never before. Our knowledge has grown very much. We have discovered new technology that could help us all. There is this new sheet that you can call paper, in which you can write on. Our culture has also grown . We became friends with Rome and India. These are all ways that you can see that China has grown as a whole.

Reporter:  Why Do you think Confucianism is such an important belief to study?


Liu Xiu:  Confucianism should be taught to everyone. China’s belief system is based off of of it. It is a part of our country that brings us together even more. It;s affected the country, helped give everyone the ability to respect one another. China’s government is based off of Confucianism with a twist of Legalism.It is a big part of the country.

This map shows the borders of China during the Han Dynasty in the years 206 B.C.E to 220 A.D. The pink shaded area is the territory during the Han Dynasty. The solid black border is the modern day China area. The land had grown from the previous, Qin Dynasty. They spent much money on the military to help with invasions and attacks. The Han Dynasty was able to conquer lands that had been taken away from them in the past years. When Xiongnu was defeated, much land was conquered and as their army grew, they conquered more land. The Han was large with territory, and now modern China is even bigger. This map shows how the military was strong during the Han Dynasty, and very successful.

You Get What You Deserved

Now a days you don’t get chosen for a job because of your family members. To be in a high position you must study for years to take an exam, that some people can't even pass. Confucius beliefs and teachings have been put into an exam and a way that you get accepted into a role that you deserved because you worked hard. It gives a better chance of the person to be suited for the job.This exams shows who really deserves the job. It means they are smart enough to make the right decisions. It will make China a better place, a fairer place. The Civil Service Exams have benefited many people. Beggars, farmers, peasants etc. They have a chance a to be in a higher social class, they would mean something as long as they study hard. Wealthier people do have advantages at times. Civil Service exams do take some people out of their positions because they are not able to pass the exam or they were not suited for the job, they only were because of connections. China should be presented as a fair civilization, that gives everyone a chance to be what they want.

The Road That Brought New Trading

It was 138 C.E when Zhang Qian was sent west to make alliances with western civilizations that go against the enemies, the Huns. He didn’t succeed but he brought back stories from other lands. Other countries and cultures. 

Then Qian was sent a second time and again he discovered new things that could benefit China. He formed trade relationships with places in Central Asia. Overtime more and more Chinese traders would travel west creating small routes that all connected  creating a route that extended for 4,000 miles.

Qian found new discoveries that could benefit China. Trading cultures, religions, valuables and animals. Many things brought to China, improve our own country. Trading has been growing more and more. Silk became the main trade that went around. 

Now called the Silk Road, it is familiar throughout Asia and Europe, making it’s way around the civilizations. It is bringing knowledge that China never knew before. Although many people have been worried to pass through because of all the dangers the road brings, China has been greatly blessed with helpful things that change our lives. 

“I had heard some terrible rumors of the Silk Road, I was able to go and come back with few troubles, but you could see that all around you people were getting attacked or getting buried but you couldn’t do anything. It’s probably not the best place for everyone.” - Anonymous. Things that show our life status, things that help us win war. We have achieved this all with the Silk Road, it has affected our daily lives.