Contributions & Legacy
Warfare
An ancient Chinese civilization, known as the Han (pronounced Haun) Dynasty, was able to use their excelling military tactics and weapons to expand their empire. The army of the Han Dynasty was large, well-organized, and consisted of 130,000 to 300,000 men that served two years in the army somewhere between the ages of 25 and 60.
Many advances allowed the Han Dynasty to excel in this area. For one thing, they came up with new technologies such as in iron. You see, the strength and quality of armor was able to be improved due to advances in iron. Fish-scale armor was able to be created with the iron. This type of armor was quite useful in battle because it flexed and moved with the body, making it easier to wear. Plus, iron swords made it safer in battle, as, because of iron’s strength, longer swords were able to be created. Therefore, the distance between a Han dynasty soldier with an iron sword was able to be greater from their opponent. The crossbow was yet another advancement, created by two pieces of wood fashioned into the shape of a cross. A string, attached at each end of the vertical piece, was used to shoot an arrow. The kite was invented as well. However, the kite had a different use than being a little kid’s toy. In fact, it was a military item used to scare enemies, fly messages across large base camps, and (according to legend) measure the width of a well-guarded wall.
An ancient Chinese civilization, known as the Han (pronounced Haun) Dynasty, was able to use their excelling military tactics and weapons to expand their empire. The army of the Han Dynasty was large, well-organized, and consisted of 130,000 to 300,000 men that served two years in the army somewhere between the ages of 25 and 60.
Many advances allowed the Han Dynasty to excel in this area. For one thing, they came up with new technologies such as in iron. You see, the strength and quality of armor was able to be improved due to advances in iron. Fish-scale armor was able to be created with the iron. This type of armor was quite useful in battle because it flexed and moved with the body, making it easier to wear. Plus, iron swords made it safer in battle, as, because of iron’s strength, longer swords were able to be created. Therefore, the distance between a Han dynasty soldier with an iron sword was able to be greater from their opponent. The crossbow was yet another advancement, created by two pieces of wood fashioned into the shape of a cross. A string, attached at each end of the vertical piece, was used to shoot an arrow. The kite was invented as well. However, the kite had a different use than being a little kid’s toy. In fact, it was a military item used to scare enemies, fly messages across large base camps, and (according to legend) measure the width of a well-guarded wall.
Government
Government was greatly improved due to the Han dynasty, as they adopted the idea of a centralized government from Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, but they softened his harsh ruling style. On top of that, the Han also added Confucian ideas into their government. The vast empire was able to stay orderly due to government officials throughout the empire. A bureaucracy was constructed, putting fewer people at the top. People in each place were directed by the people above them. Living in the capital, Han officials gave advice to the emperor. Throughout the empire, lower-level officials checked on roads and canals, as well as made sure enough grain was produced in the event a famine would occur. How the Han dynasty hired civil servants would have to be one of the biggest and most important achievements of the Han dynasty. Civil servants were chosen based on their knowledge and ability in the Han dynasty, but, before, civil servants were chosen by their social status. Plus, if someone worked hard, they would be promoted. If someone did not work hard, they would be demoted. This is a very fair way to hire civil servants!
Government was greatly improved due to the Han dynasty, as they adopted the idea of a centralized government from Emperor Qin Shihuangdi, but they softened his harsh ruling style. On top of that, the Han also added Confucian ideas into their government. The vast empire was able to stay orderly due to government officials throughout the empire. A bureaucracy was constructed, putting fewer people at the top. People in each place were directed by the people above them. Living in the capital, Han officials gave advice to the emperor. Throughout the empire, lower-level officials checked on roads and canals, as well as made sure enough grain was produced in the event a famine would occur. How the Han dynasty hired civil servants would have to be one of the biggest and most important achievements of the Han dynasty. Civil servants were chosen based on their knowledge and ability in the Han dynasty, but, before, civil servants were chosen by their social status. Plus, if someone worked hard, they would be promoted. If someone did not work hard, they would be demoted. This is a very fair way to hire civil servants!
Agriculture
Though many challenges were faced among farmers in the Han dynasty, many improvements to agriculture were produced. For example, the chain pump was an important advancement because it made it easier to move water to the fields from low-irrigation ditches and canals. Another important advancement was new knowledge in how to use molds to create strong iron plows with melted iron. These plows were more easily made and pushed dirt away from the row being plowed. This feature of the new plow did not allow dirt to pile up in front of the plow. The invention of the wheelbarrow was yet another important tool created that helped in farming because it allowed farmers to carry heavier loads easier. This one-wheel creation helped farmers transport items greatly.
Though many challenges were faced among farmers in the Han dynasty, many improvements to agriculture were produced. For example, the chain pump was an important advancement because it made it easier to move water to the fields from low-irrigation ditches and canals. Another important advancement was new knowledge in how to use molds to create strong iron plows with melted iron. These plows were more easily made and pushed dirt away from the row being plowed. This feature of the new plow did not allow dirt to pile up in front of the plow. The invention of the wheelbarrow was yet another important tool created that helped in farming because it allowed farmers to carry heavier loads easier. This one-wheel creation helped farmers transport items greatly.
Industry
Silk and salt were both two very important industries in the Han dynasty. The invention of a foot-powered machine was very important in the production of silk. This was important due to the fact silk was a very valuable trade. Salt was valued because of the fact it is able to preserve both vegetables and meat. The Chinese figured out how to get salt from deep in the Earth, whereas before you had to get it from the sea. They use diron-tipped bamboo drills, that were hollow and had a valve, to allow the salt water to come out the well (which could be around 1,000 feet deep). The salt water was then heated, allowing the water to evaporate and leave the salt behind.
Silk and salt were both two very important industries in the Han dynasty. The invention of a foot-powered machine was very important in the production of silk. This was important due to the fact silk was a very valuable trade. Salt was valued because of the fact it is able to preserve both vegetables and meat. The Chinese figured out how to get salt from deep in the Earth, whereas before you had to get it from the sea. They use diron-tipped bamboo drills, that were hollow and had a valve, to allow the salt water to come out the well (which could be around 1,000 feet deep). The salt water was then heated, allowing the water to evaporate and leave the salt behind.
Art
Paper was invented, which was very important find because it was ideal for calligraphy. Silk was used before the invention of paper and, although it rolled up nicely, it was very expensive. On the other hand, bamboo was also used instead of paper, but it was very awkward to use. Yet, it was cheaper than silk . However, paper was a great achievement. It was easier to bind in books and was cheaper than both silk and bamboo. It was affordable! Silk fibers, hemp, bamboo, straw, and seaweed were all materials used to make paper. To become paper, the materials had to be boiled into a soupy pulp and then taken out little by little on a screen. The product of the soupy pulp drying on the screen became the paper. Paper changed the way people communicated and helped calligraphers.
Paper was invented, which was very important find because it was ideal for calligraphy. Silk was used before the invention of paper and, although it rolled up nicely, it was very expensive. On the other hand, bamboo was also used instead of paper, but it was very awkward to use. Yet, it was cheaper than silk . However, paper was a great achievement. It was easier to bind in books and was cheaper than both silk and bamboo. It was affordable! Silk fibers, hemp, bamboo, straw, and seaweed were all materials used to make paper. To become paper, the materials had to be boiled into a soupy pulp and then taken out little by little on a screen. The product of the soupy pulp drying on the screen became the paper. Paper changed the way people communicated and helped calligraphers.
Medicine
Different healing techniques were used by the Chinese in the Han dynasty. For example, to cure illnesses that strike quickly, acupuncture was used to balance the forces of yin and yang. Acupuncture was performed by inserting thin needles into the body in specific places. Another technique used by the Chinese is called moxibustion, which was used to treat long-term diseases. In this technique, a moxa would be placed on the skin. Then, it would be set on fire. The Chinese learned how to judge health by the pulse or heartbeat of someone. The concept that blood circulates through the body and back to the heart was discovered by the Chinese. Plus, an anesthetic, from a type of wine, was discovered by Han doctors.
Different healing techniques were used by the Chinese in the Han dynasty. For example, to cure illnesses that strike quickly, acupuncture was used to balance the forces of yin and yang. Acupuncture was performed by inserting thin needles into the body in specific places. Another technique used by the Chinese is called moxibustion, which was used to treat long-term diseases. In this technique, a moxa would be placed on the skin. Then, it would be set on fire. The Chinese learned how to judge health by the pulse or heartbeat of someone. The concept that blood circulates through the body and back to the heart was discovered by the Chinese. Plus, an anesthetic, from a type of wine, was discovered by Han doctors.
Science
Discoveries such as the concept the moon shines due to the light of the sun reflecting off of its surface and the fact solar eclipses happen when the sun is blocked from our view by the moon were discovered by the Chinese. The seismograph is an important invention the Chinese created, which detects earthquakes. This invention could detect earthquakes from several hundred miles away, helping to save lives and advance this area of science. Another invention of the Chinese is the compass, which could show direction. Lodestone was used to make compasses, since the iron ore tends to align itself with Earth’s magnetic field.
Discoveries such as the concept the moon shines due to the light of the sun reflecting off of its surface and the fact solar eclipses happen when the sun is blocked from our view by the moon were discovered by the Chinese. The seismograph is an important invention the Chinese created, which detects earthquakes. This invention could detect earthquakes from several hundred miles away, helping to save lives and advance this area of science. Another invention of the Chinese is the compass, which could show direction. Lodestone was used to make compasses, since the iron ore tends to align itself with Earth’s magnetic field.