Chapter 23: The Han Dynasty
Essential Question: In what ways did the Han dynasty improve government and daily life in China?
In this chapter, you learn about the golden age in China during the Han dynasty. In this period, the Chinese made many advances that improved their government and daily life. The Chinese word Han is still used to describe China's culture.
Warfare and Government
New weapons helped Han emperors succeed in war and expand their empire. They organized the government into a bureaucracy. Civil servants who were chosen for their ability worked in the bureaucracy. Agriculture and Industry Several inventions improved production in agriculture and in the silk and salt industries. Farmers used the chain pump for irrigation and iron plows.Workers used foot-powered reeling machines to make silk thread, and iron tipped drills to mine salt. Art, Medicine, and Science The invention of paper advanced the art of calligraphy and changed the way people communicated. Healers learned about the human body and developed techniques that are still used today. Chinese scientists made careful observations of the heavens, and invented the seismograph and the compass. Articles |
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