Major
Advancement: The Invention of Paper, Western Trade
and The Silk Road
Major
Public Works: The Western Han Tombs
Western
Han Dynasty
Gaodi
206 - 195 BC
Huidi
195-188 BC
Lu Hou
188-180 BC
Wendi
180-157 BC
Jingdi
157-141 BC
Wudi
141-87 BC
Zhaodi
87-74 BC
Xuandi
74-49 BC
Yuandi
49-33 BC
Chengdi
33-7 BC
Aidi
7-1 BC
Pingdi
1 BC - 6 AD
Ruzi
7-9
Wang Mang
9-23
After a brief
return to the feudal system following the fall of the Qin
Dynasty, Emperor
Gaodi reunited China under Imperial Rule. Much was to be
done to restore the strenth of the empire, and gain the
support of the people. Many of the harse laws imposed by
the Qin were repealed. Rather than huge public projects
like The Great Wall, the government focused on stabilizing
the economy. They worked to fill the warehouses with grain
to help the people through periods of famine and flood.
The first Civil Service examination program was
instituted. This enabled the common people to achieve
public positions based on knowledge and ability, not
bloodline. Expeditions were sent west to explore the lands
beyond the kingdom, and to develop trade. This was the
beginning of the Silk Road. China's cities were soon
flooded with western traders and the goods they brought.
As time went on, the dynasty ran short on suitable heirs
to the throne. Control fell to the dowager-empress Wang.
The Emperors placed on the throne during this period
included six year old Pingdi, and two year old Ruzi. This
gave rise to much protest and eventually to civil war. The
Western Han dynasty was defeated and the capital was moved
east to Luoyang. Thus the change in name to the Eastern
Han Dynasty.
