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laws imposed by the Qin were repealed.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.
