In this Grade 6 lesson from Pengi Social Studies, students examine the structure of Han Dynasty government, including the Confucian-based civil service system. Learners trace the routes of the Silk Road and analyze the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, and glass, along with the spread of Buddhism into China. The lesson also covers key Han technological achievements, including paper-making and the seismograph.
Section 1
The Civil Service System
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The Han Dynasty replaced the harsh laws of the Qin with Confucian principles. To run the government, they created a civil service system.
Officials were chosen based on their ability, tested through difficult exams on Confucian teachings, rather than family wealth. This created a skilled bureaucracy that helped the empire run smoothly and ensured a stable government for centuries.
Section 2
The Silk Road and Trade
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Han rulers expanded trade routes known as the Silk Road, connecting China to Rome. Merchants exchanged Chinese silk and paper for Western glass, horses, and wool.
The Silk Road also facilitated cultural diffusion. Along these routes, Indian missionaries brought Buddhism to China. Its message of peace and an end to suffering appealed to many Chinese people during times of trouble.
Section 3
Han Achievements in Technology
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The Han era was a "Golden Age" of invention. The most famous achievement was paper, which revolutionized record-keeping and learning.
Scientists also invented the seismograph, a device used to detect earthquakes and the direction they came from. In agriculture, the wheelbarrow and iron plow helped farmers produce more food to support the growing population.
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Section 1
The Civil Service System
###
The Han Dynasty replaced the harsh laws of the Qin with Confucian principles. To run the government, they created a civil service system.
Officials were chosen based on their ability, tested through difficult exams on Confucian teachings, rather than family wealth. This created a skilled bureaucracy that helped the empire run smoothly and ensured a stable government for centuries.
Section 2
The Silk Road and Trade
###
Han rulers expanded trade routes known as the Silk Road, connecting China to Rome. Merchants exchanged Chinese silk and paper for Western glass, horses, and wool.
The Silk Road also facilitated cultural diffusion. Along these routes, Indian missionaries brought Buddhism to China. Its message of peace and an end to suffering appealed to many Chinese people during times of trouble.
Section 3
Han Achievements in Technology
###
The Han era was a "Golden Age" of invention. The most famous achievement was paper, which revolutionized record-keeping and learning.
Scientists also invented the seismograph, a device used to detect earthquakes and the direction they came from. In agriculture, the wheelbarrow and iron plow helped farmers produce more food to support the growing population.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter