Han dynasty

I. Political and Institutional History

A. Former/Western Han (Chang'an) 206 BC - AD 9

1. Liu Bang = Han Gaozu (r. 202-195 BC)

how to reward supporters

how to have centralized rule without undue harshness

2. Han Wudi = Emperor Wu (r. 141-87 BC)

curbing nobles

curbing merchants

foreign expansion

promoting Confucianism

B. Wang Mang 9-23

1. issue of succession and maternal relatives

2. Confucian policies

3. peasant rebellions, restoration

C. Later/Eastern Han (Luoyang) 25-220

II. International Context

A. Steppe and nomadism, Xiongnu

B. Zhang Qian and Central Asia (Ferghana, Bactria, Parthia)

C. Tribute System

D. Cost of northern empire

III. Economy

A. population of 58 million

B. small farms and large estates

C. monopolies

IV. Intellectual and religious trends

A. Recovering the classics

B. Confucian synthesis—Heaven, Earth, and Man

C. Omens, Portents, magic

V. Fall of Han