The Han Dynasty

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- Why are the Han so reviewed among Chinese dynasties?

In Han Dynasty, China first extended its territory to Today's Xinjiang & Inner Mongolia, started to use paper, and was first long-living dynasty under the reign of one emperor. However, the most important point is in Han Dynasty, Confucius was first established as the country's basic philosophy, which did not change in the following 2000+ years, and even until today. They also were the center for trade and commerce because of all the valuable resources that they required such as silk, spices, medicines, jewels, glassware, and other fabrics.

- How did the Silk Road transform China if at all and how did it transform those among its path?

The Silk Road brought along trade and ideas along China, it also brought them new religions, beliefs and materials. Economically, It helped china in trading with the west, east and also Europe, this gave china a market to sell its goods and it made money off of trade, China's goods were very valuable which meant the traders got a bigger profit, meaning more money. Culturally, it introduced more cultures and ways to celebrate and communicate to what they called their God, and also during a rough time for China Buddhism was introduced, which helped the Chinese relieve their stress of what may have happened recently. Socially, more languages were introduced to people, new ways to communicate, new ways to write, draw, and talk were all introduced to people near the silk road, the Chinese were confused as were the Europeans because they were all hearing these weird words that didn't make sense to them because they had never been exposed to these different ways to communicate.

9. What about China’s ancient trading patterns may tell us something about its ideas on the material world?

Well when china found out about tea and its uses it became highly valuable and would ultimately consume the market. China has been known for the Silk Road and its valuable resources for uses such as exporting and importing goods. They would trade valuable items with other surrounding countries such as jewels, silk, bronze, tools, minerals, fabrics and food.

10. What is the function of ancestor worship?

Well the purpose of ancestor worship within this dynasty was the fact that they wanted their name to be remembered. The idea that even ancestors are dead but they still have their essence and keep the respect throughout the years. It also keeps a piece of their deceased ancestors alive within the family bloodline. This worship of ancestors has been a tradition for decades and can still be found to this day within society. Around this time in the Han dynasty since they had developed so much using Confucius methods it shows how they used the ritual and respect towards how bloodline and family traditions would follow within the following generations. A good example would be how the bloodline in family emperors would behold so much importance because it allowed them to keep the family in power for many years.