What is Han Dynasty?
The Han Dynasty began in China in 206 BCE, after Liu Bang led his rebels to defeat the government of the Qin Dynasty. After four years of the Chu-Han War between Liu Bang and his rival, Xiang Yu, Bang emerged as the victor and established the Han Empire and its capital Chang’an in 202 BCE. Two of the main goals of the new dynasty were the unification of China and the incorporation of Confucian principles. The change to Confucianism was brought about by the strengthening economy, fortification of the royal palace, a reduction of civil servants, the government’s waning power over the peasant class, and the rise of aristocratic families. Confucianism taught that people are born with a potential for morality and the new government of the Han incorporated this into their state policy, believing that rulers must support this morality. Therefore, the Han period saw a great reduction in harsh laws and punishments, and a turn to a rule by merit doctrine. The Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE) was
