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==History==
==History==
===Early Han===
In the early years of the Han Dynasty, the Imperial Court only wielded direct control over the western portions of the empire, which it divided into commanderies (郡, ''jùn''). The eastern portions of the empire were still, initially, controlled by separate lords who had allied themselves with the Han, or submitted to Han authority. This somewhat feudal situation gradually shifted as the Emperor began appointing his brothers, sons, cousins, and uncles to be lords of those domains, thus bringing those territories eventually under the centralized control.
In the early years of the Han Dynasty, the Imperial Court only wielded direct control over the western portions of the empire, which it divided into commanderies (郡, ''jùn''). The eastern portions of the empire were still, initially, controlled by separate lords who had allied themselves with the Han, or submitted to Han authority. This somewhat feudal situation gradually shifted as the Emperor began appointing his brothers, sons, cousins, and uncles to be lords of those domains, thus bringing those territories eventually under the centralized control.
Though the first emperor of the dynasty, [[Emperor Gaozu of Han]], is said to have despised Confucianism, his successors gradually adopted it. By 135 BCE, the Confucian classics became the foundation for the training and guiding political philosophy of all scholar-bureaucrats, with a bureaucratic system of administration gradually coming into place which would serve as the basis for governmental administration of all later dynasties, down into the early 20th century. Concepts such as the [[Mandate of Heaven]] were also adopted, and incorporated into the cosmological and political philosophical beliefs of the regime.
Though the first emperor of the dynasty, [[Emperor Gaozu of Han]], is said to have despised Confucianism, his successors gradually adopted it. By 135 BCE, the Confucian classics became the foundation for the training and guiding political philosophy of all scholar-bureaucrats, with a bureaucratic system of administration gradually coming into place which would serve as the basis for governmental administration of all later dynasties, down into the early 20th century. Concepts such as the [[Mandate of Heaven]] were also adopted, and incorporated into the cosmological and political philosophical beliefs of the regime.
===Wang Mang===
The dynasty weakened considerably beginning in the 20s BCE, as the court faced numerous rebellions from without, and factional struggles, nepotism & corruption, and a succession of weak emperors within. The Imperial regent, [[Wang Mang]], eventually was named to the throne in [[8]] CE; since he was not related by blood to the Imperial family, this would technically be considered the beginning of a new dynasty. He launched numerous reforms aimed at improving society, but faced considerable popular opposition as well as natural disasters and Xiongnu invasions. His efforts to create a new dynasty from within a terribly weakened Court, and without additional military support, ultimately failed, succumbing to a rebellion in [[23]] CE. The rebels took [[Chang'an]], killed Wang Mang, and in [[25]] CE took the throne for themselves; since their leader was related by blood to the previous Imperial line, this is regarded not as a new dynasty, but as the revival of the Han, which would then go on to last an additional 200 years.
===Later Han===
In the Later Han, the Imperial capital was moved from Chang'an to [[Luoyang]]. Various policies allowed the empire to recover from the chaos and devastation of the preceding decades of difficulties, and by around 100 CE, the empire was as prosperous as it had been at its previous peak.
The Han also managed to achieve a degree of peace, securing alliances with or victories against various steppe tribes. They formed an alliance with certain tribes in 50 CE, and sent an army across the [[Gobi Desert]] in [[89]] CE which defeated certain tribes of Xiongnu, who then fled westward, becoming the "Huns" who then threatened Europe. Han armies also expanded west in this period as far as the shores of the Caspian Sea (in [[97]] CE); coupled with certain government policies favorable to merchants, this proved a considerable boon to the Silk Road trade.
The dynasty eventually collapsed, however, in 220 CE, in the face of numerous rebellions. The realm fell into disunity, being ruled by a number of polities over the course of the roughly 350-year-long [[Six Dynasties Period]] (220-[[589]]), before being unified once again under the [[Sui Dynasty]].
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==References==
==References==
*[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 34-35.
*[[Albert M. Craig]], ''The Heritage of Chinese Civilization'', Third Edition, Prentice Hall (2011), 34-42.
[[Category:Historical Periods]]
[[Category:Historical Periods]]