1. The Han Empire, Korea and Japan

2. The Han Dynasty is Born • Huangdi dies and the Han dynasty comes to power • Liu Bang is victorious over other leaders • Han dynasty also uses centralized gov’t • People paid taxes and 1 month of labor • People tested for civil service jobs • Tested on Confucian knowledge • Major Han Achievements • Paper (105 AD), collar harness, 2-blade plow, wheelbarrow, keeping silk secret hidden, porcelain • Han dynasty will fall due to uneven distribution of wealth b/w rich and poor

3. The Map of the Silk Roads • The Silk Roads were one of the most important trade routes in the world • Connected China to the rest of the world • Sold numerous products including silk, porcelain, and spread ideas on government and Buddhism

4. Geography of Korea and Japan • Korea – peninsula off of the coast of China • Mountainous area with limited farmland • Japan – archipelago (islands) east of China in Pacific • Mountainous islands with limited farmland Korea Japan China

5. Influence of China on Korea • Han dynasty first to conquer the area of Korea • Borrowed the Chinese ideas of • Centralized government • Confucianism • Buddhism • Chinese writing – eventually created their own style Ancient China

6. Japanese Culture • Religion known as Shinto – “way of the gods” • Based on respecting the forces of nature • Also focuses on ancestor worship • Believed in kami- divine spirits living in nature • Also influenced be Chinese culture • Buddhism will mix with Shinto beliefs • Adopted Chinese culture, art, government and writing • Government later changes to feudalistic society • Landowners hire samurais- warriors • Followed Bushido – code of conduct for samurai warriors • Also hired to protect shogun (Japanese king)