Liu BangLiu Bang

established centralized established centralized governmentgovernment

had authority over allhad authority over all

lowered taxes lowered taxes

eased harsh punishments eased harsh punishments

brought stability & peacebrought stability & peace

Empress LuEmpress Lu

Controlled the throne by naming one infant after another as

emperor and acted as regent for each

WudiWudi

conquered lands and made allies of the enemies of his enemies

set up civil service system of training & examinations for

those who wanted government careers

Wang MingWang Ming

minted new money to relieve treasury shortage

established public granaries to feed the poor

tried to redistribute land from the rich to the poor

Paper is inventedPaper is invented

increased availability of books

helped spread education

promoted expansion of government bureaucracy by producing records that could be more easily read & stored

Government makes techniques of Government makes techniques of silk production a closely silk production a closely

guarded secretguarded secret

Helped create a worldwide demand for silk & expanded

Chinese commerce all the way to Rome

Territorial expansion brings Territorial expansion brings people of many cultures under people of many cultures under

Chinese ruleChinese rule

government recognizes need to unify empire & promote various

methods of assimilation by:

intermarriage

schools to teach conquered peoples

appointing local people to government

Gap between rich & poor increasesGap between rich & poor increases

political instability increases

weakens the economy

imbalance topples the empire