Gaozu of Han is unusual in that he was born a peasant. In fact, he is among the few dynastic originators to have been born into a lowly farming family. In his youth, Liu Bang was described as a peasant rebel, and had an affinity with dragons (his face was described as resembling that of the mythical beast's).

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Emperor Gaozu of Han -

Rising from obscurity, commoner Liu Bang was crowned emperor of China on February 28, 202 BCE. As Emperor Gaozu of Han, he presided over China's golden age.

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Embracing Confucianism -

Later during the Han dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han made Confucianism the official state ideology.

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Embracing Confucianism -

Confucianism followed the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius, who advocated moderation, virtuous behavior and thought, and filial piety.

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Embracing Confucianism -

During this time, Confucius schools were established to teach Confucian ethics. Embracing Confucianism is credited with Han being the longest-lasting Chinese empire in history, establishing the rule for more than 400 years.

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Invention of the wheelbarrow -

The Han dynasty is known for its technological advancements. One of the inventions to come out of this fertile period was the wheelbarrow (this one seen here with a sail at the front to catch the wind).

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Invention of the wheelbarrow -

A man named Zhuge Liang is considered its inventor. Liang, an accomplished military strategist, conceived the wheelbarrow as a way to transport supplies and munitions to the battlefield and use the same vehicle to transport the wounded to safety.

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Invention of the wheelbarrow -

Evidence of this unique, one-wheeled cart can be seen in brick reliefs found lining the tomb of Emperor Hui, dated back to precisely 118 CE.

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Han weaponry -

The Han dynasty contributed towards the development of specialized weaponry in ancient China.

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Han weaponry -

The jian (a type of sword) was mentioned as one of the "Five Weapons" during the Han dynasty, the other four being the dao (sword), spear, halberd (polearm), and staff.

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Han weaponry -

These polychrome terracotta statues of a pair of warriors date back to the Western Han dynasty. The figures are dressed in traditional Han armor.

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Invention of the papermaking process -

Cai Lun, a Chinese official working in the Imperial court during the Han dynasty, is attributed with the invention of paper, around 105 CE.

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Invention of the papermaking process -

While earlier forms of paper existed, Cai Lun added pulp via tree bark and hemp ends, which resulted in the large-scale manufacture and worldwide spread of paper.

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Invention of the papermaking process -

By improving upon an already known process, Cai Lun set in motion a standard papermaking process that is still followed today.

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Court eunuchs -

Eunuchs, males who have been castrated, first appeared in Chinese royal courts around 146 CE, during the Han dynasty.

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Court eunuchs -

Eunuchs served as palace menials and as watchdogs, guarding the emperor's harem. Some were also employed as high-ranking civil servants, the reason being that since they were incapable of having children, they would not be tempted to seize power and start their own dynasty.

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Court eunuchs -

Famously, the Ten Attendants, a group of influential eunuch-officials in the imperial court of Emperor Ling in Eastern Han and which actually numbered 12, gained considerable power in the imperial palace.

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Creation of the Silk Road -

The use of silk as a decorative textile can be traced back to 2,696 BCE. But it was during the Han dynasty that the value of this delicate and much sought-after material soared.

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Creation of the Silk Road -

Chinese diplomat, explorer, and politician Zhang Quian was one of the first Western Han officials to bring back news about Central Asia after an expedition he undertook to the region from 138 to 126 BCE.

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Creation of the Silk Road -

Zhang Quian's epic trek paved the way for the establishment of the Silk Road, a trade route that stretched from Asia through India, Persia, Arabia, Greece, and all the way to Italy.

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Fall of the Han dynasty -

The fall of the Han dynasty more or less coincided with the rule of Xian of Han, the last emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty in China.

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Fall of the Han dynasty -

The centuries-old dynasty started to fracture under Emperor Xian's reign. A series of natural disasters were exacerbated by peasant rebellion and tribal revolt.

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Fall of the Han dynasty -

Eventually, the Han dynasty collapsed under chaotic infighting among warlords across China.

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Battle of Red Cliffs -

The period surrounding the collapse of the Han dynasty is one of the bloodiest in the country's history. It was marked by the Battle of Red Cliffs, one of the most famous battles in the annals of ancient China and arguably the largest naval encounter ever recorded.

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Battle of Red Cliffs -

The battle was fought on the Yangtze River during the winter of 208–209 CE between rival warlords controlling different parts of the country. The site today is marked with a stone inscription on cliffs near Chibi, in Hubei province.

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Battle of Red Cliffs -

Also landmarking the battle site is a statue of Zhou Yu, primarily known for his leading role in defeating the numerically superior forces of the northern warlord Cao Cao. After the battle, the warlords stabilized their regions to usher in a period known as the Three Kingdoms, when Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu dominated China from 220 to 280 CE.

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Han dynasty legacy -

The Han dynasty's achievements provided a lasting legacy for China both as a society and a state. It saw the development of the civil service and government structure, and the first official trade with Western cultures.

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Han dynasty legacy -

The invention of new materials, things like paper, the suspension bridge, the wheelbarrow, seismograph, and the blast furnace, among many other firsts, helped shape today's modern China.

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Han dynasty legacy -

But perhaps the dynasty's most lasting legacy is the fact that out of over 1.4 billion people, 92% of the entire population of China still consider themselves part of the Han ethnic group.

Sources: (World History Encyclopedia) (History) (Britannica)

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NL Beeld/Getty Images

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Emperor Gaozu of Han -

Emperor Gaozu of Han, who is also known by his given name Liu Bang, was the founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty.

NL Beeld

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Emperor Gaozu of Han -

Getty Images

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Emperor Gaozu of Han -

Rising from obscurity, commoner Liu Bang was crowned emperor of China on February 28, 202 BCE. As Emperor Gaozu of Han, he presided over China's golden age.

Getty Images

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Embracing Confucianism -

Later during the Han dynasty, Emperor Wu of Han made Confucianism the official state ideology.

Public Domain

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Embracing Confucianism -

Confucianism followed the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius, who advocated moderation, virtuous behavior and thought, and filial piety.

Getty Images

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Embracing Confucianism -

Public Domain

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Invention of the wheelbarrow -

Getty Images

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Invention of the wheelbarrow -

Public Domain

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Invention of the wheelbarrow -

Evidence of this unique, one-wheeled cart can be seen in brick reliefs found lining the tomb of Emperor Hui, dated back to precisely 118 CE.

Public Domain

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Han weaponry -

The Han dynasty contributed towards the development of specialized weaponry in ancient China.

NL Beeld

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Han weaponry -

The jian (a type of sword) was mentioned as one of the "Five Weapons" during the Han dynasty, the other four being the dao (sword), spear, halberd (polearm), and staff.

Getty Images

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Han weaponry -

These polychrome terracotta statues of a pair of warriors date back to the Western Han dynasty. The figures are dressed in traditional Han armor.

Getty Images

12 / 31 Fotos

Invention of the papermaking process -

Cai Lun, a Chinese official working in the Imperial court during the Han dynasty, is attributed with the invention of paper, around 105 CE.

Getty Images

13 / 31 Fotos

Invention of the papermaking process -

While earlier forms of paper existed, Cai Lun added pulp via tree bark and hemp ends, which resulted in the large-scale manufacture and worldwide spread of paper.

Getty Images

14 / 31 Fotos

Invention of the papermaking process -

By improving upon an already known process, Cai Lun set in motion a standard papermaking process that is still followed today.

NL Beeld

15 / 31 Fotos

Court eunuchs -

Eunuchs, males who have been castrated, first appeared in Chinese royal courts around 146 CE, during the Han dynasty.

Getty Images

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Court eunuchs -

Getty Images

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Court eunuchs -

Getty Images

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Creation of the Silk Road -

The use of silk as a decorative textile can be traced back to 2,696 BCE. But it was during the Han dynasty that the value of this delicate and much sought-after material soared.

Getty Images

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Creation of the Silk Road -

Getty Images

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Creation of the Silk Road -

Zhang Quian's epic trek paved the way for the establishment of the Silk Road, a trade route that stretched from Asia through India, Persia, Arabia, Greece, and all the way to Italy.

NL Beeld

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Fall of the Han dynasty -

The fall of the Han dynasty more or less coincided with the rule of Xian of Han, the last emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty in China.

Public Domain

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Fall of the Han dynasty -

The centuries-old dynasty started to fracture under Emperor Xian's reign. A series of natural disasters were exacerbated by peasant rebellion and tribal revolt.

Getty Images

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Fall of the Han dynasty -

Eventually, the Han dynasty collapsed under chaotic infighting among warlords across China.

Shutterstock

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Battle of Red Cliffs -

Public Domain

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Battle of Red Cliffs -

Shutterstock

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Battle of Red Cliffs -

Shutterstock

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Han dynasty legacy -

Shutterstock

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Han dynasty legacy -

The invention of new materials, things like paper, the suspension bridge, the wheelbarrow, seismograph, and the blast furnace, among many other firsts, helped shape today's modern China.

Shutterstock

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Han dynasty legacy -

But perhaps the dynasty's most lasting legacy is the fact that out of over 1.4 billion people, 92% of the entire population of China still consider themselves part of the Han ethnic group.

Sources: (World History Encyclopedia) (History) (Britannica)

Shutterstock

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The Han dynasty, China's golden age

A period of astonishing prosperity and inventiveness

06/09/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE History

The Han dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history. Spanning the years 206 BCE to 220 CE, the dynasty oversaw periods of economic prosperity and an astonishing advance in technical achievements. Intellectual enquiry was another hallmark of Han culture, particularly in the areas of government, law, philosophy, history, and art. Indeed, this fertile and imaginative epoch helped shape China into the prosperous country it is today. But how did the Han dynasty evolve, and why was its end so brutal?

Click back through time and find out more about the Han dynasty's long reign and achievements.