The Han Dynasty Achievements

Han society and Achievements

Han society and Achievements

The Han dynasty was a time of innovation and economic development. The production of many goods increased and trade flourished. More people worked as craftsmen and merchants. Many important inventions also date to this dynasty.

Multiple Choice

What characterized the economy during the Han dynasty?

• Stagnation

• Decline

• Innovation and development

• Dependency on foreign aid

Multiple Choice

What was a significant outcome of the Han dynasty's economic development?

• Decrease in trade

• Decrease in the production of goods

• Flourishing trade and increased production of goods

• Shift towards agricultural self-sufficiency

Multiple Choice

During the Han dynasty, was the economy:

• Getting better with new ideas

• Staying the same as before

• Becoming worse than before

• Improving with new ideas and more businesses

Multiple Choice

What happened to trade and making things during the Han dynasty?

• They slowed down

• They stopped

• They got busier and more stuff was made

• They became less important than before

Han Dynasty's Social Order

China's social order was based on Confucian values. Confucius and his followers valued mental work more than physical labor. Scholars, therefore, were highly respected. Farmers were also highly respected because they produced the most important and basic goods: food and cloth. Artisans were valued for their skill and hard work.

Multiple Choice

According to Confucian values, who were highly respected in China's social order?

• Merchants

• Scholars

• Soldiers

• Entertainers

Multiple Choice

Why were farmers highly respected in Confucian society?

• Because they were wealthy

• Because they produced food and cloth, which were important goods

• Because they were skilled craftsmen

• Because they were scholars

Han Dynasty's Social Order

At the bottom of the social order were a small number of slaves. When someone committed a serious crime, family members might be punished with slavery. Other people were sold into slavery when their families fell deep into debt.

Multiple Choice

Who were at the bottom of the social order in ancient China?

• Merchants

• Farmers

• Slaves

• Artisans

Multiple Choice

How did some people become slaves in ancient China?

• By choosing to become slaves

• By being wealthy

• By committing serious crimes or when their families fell deep into debt

• By being scholars

Han Dynasty's Family Life

During the Han dynasty, Confucian values such as family loyalty and respect for elders were upheld, with ancestor worship remaining prevalent. Offerings were made to ancestors to demonstrate respect and seek their support. The Han legal code enforced these values, allowing parents to report disobedient children, who would face severe punishment, while younger children were typically exempt from such consequences.

Multiple Choice

What values were upheld during the Han dynasty?

• Loyalty to the government

• Respect for elders and family loyalty

• Individual freedom

• Pursuit of wealth

Multiple Choice

What was a common practice regarding ancestors during the Han dynasty?

• Ignoring them

• Making offerings to show respect and seek their support

• Forgetting about them

• Disrespecting them

Multiple Choice

How did the Han legal code deal with disobedient children?

• By ignoring their behavior

• By punishing parents

• By providing harsh punishment for the children, especially adult children*

• By rewarding them

Role of Women in the Han Dynasty

In the Han Dynasty, women generally held lower status than men, primarily working within the home in roles such as weaving and caregiving. However, there were exceptions like Ban Zhao, who received a rare education and became a historian in the royal court. While advocating for young women's education, she also acknowledged the societal superiority of men.

Multiple Choice

What roles did women primarily hold in the Han Dynasty?

• Leadership positions

• Weaving and caregiving roles in the home

• Military roles

• Political roles

Multiple Choice

Who was an exception to the lower status of women in the Han Dynasty?

• Ban Zhao

• Confucius

• Emperor Han

• A common woman

Multiple Choice

What was Ban Zhao's profession in the Han Dynasty?

• Weaver

• Historian

• Doctor

• Farmer

Economic Life in the Han Dynasty

In the Han Dynasty, China was much calmer than before when there were lots of fights. The new emperors made taxes lower than before, so people had more money. Most people were farmers, and they were really important for making the country strong. They grew food and made silk, which was super valuable for trading along the Silk Road.

Multiple Choice

How was China different during the Han Dynasty compared to before?

• There were more fights

• There was less fighting

• There were no farmers

• Taxes were higher

Multiple Choice

How did the new emperors in the Han Dynasty change taxes compared to before?

• They made taxes higher

• They kept taxes the same

• They made taxes lower

• They abolished taxes completely

Multiple Choice

What was the role of farmers in the Han Dynasty?

• They made pottery

• They grew food and made silk

• They were soldiers

• They were traders

Monopolies in the Han Dynasty

During the Han Dynasty, making iron and mining salt became really important industries. Iron was used for tools and weapons, while salt was essential for cooking and preserving food. The emperor, Wudi, made these industries into monopolies, where only one group controlled everything. This made a lot of money, which helped Wudi's military missions and other plans.

Multiple Choice

What two industries became crucial during the Han Dynasty?

• Silk and pottery

• Iron and salt

• Fishing and farming

• Carpentry and weaving

Multiple Choice

What did Emperor Wudi do with the iron and salt industries?

• He abolished them

• He made them into schools

• He turned them into monopolies

• He shared them with other countries