ASNS 1150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Emperor Wu Of Han, Emperor Gaozu Of Han, Xiongnu

• School: Northeastern University
• Department: Asian Studies
• Course: ASNS 1150
• Professor: Tom Havens

Document Summary

Conquered the warring states to create a unified empire. Wanted to limit power of aristocrats to have direct control over peasantry. Burning of books and mass murder of scholars in order to suppress any forms of criticism. Rebellion from discontent=> qin empire briefly broke up back into warring states nature. Founded by rebel liu bang, who eventually became known as emperor gaozu. Encountered a nomadic tribe, xiongnu, and had to give into them because military wasn"t strong enough. Defeated the xiongnu and expanded the empire to the northwest. Military campaigns put a severe strain on economy. Established confucianism as imperial orthodoxy=> used it to legitimize his rule. Gov"t officials must be selected through a test of confucian values. Dongzhong shu cosmology: gave han right to rule, but also limited their power by saying that if they did anything wrong, the stars will punish them.