In the countryside, the poor were much better off. They were often at war, which made walking in the city rather dangerous. In the cities, the poor lived in crowded tenements. Each city was surrounded by a wall made of earth and stone for protection from bandits and other invaders. Cities were laid out with main streets and little alleyways. Most people in Han times were peasant farmers. Many of the rich ordered stone lions to be placed inside their tomb to guard it. They furnished their tombs with golden items and gorgeous fabrics. They had cashmere carpets and richly colored drapes. They built beautiful homes and wore furs. The rich imitated the behavior and clothing worn in the imperial palace. Most were tutored at home, or in small groups. The rich did not send their kids to public school. At one point, the Grand School had an enrollment of 30,000 students! People wanted to learn new skills because jobs were given to people who qualified for them, not just given to the nobles. The Grand School was the big one in the capital city. In the sciences, great strides were made in medicine.Įducation was important in Han times. They bought a title from the emperor, built mansions, and planted beautiful gardens. When the canals were put to use, some merchants became rich. There was a massive public works project to build canals for better movement of goods. Pottery was brightly painted with dragons and trees and scenes and charming glimpses of life during Han times.Ĭhinese paper lanterns first became popular during the Han A gorgeous glaze in vivid colors was invented for pottery. Craftsman made gold ornaments and jade jewelry. When the Han took over, people tried to remember and write down the literature and the teachings of Confucius.Īrt was encouraged. So much was lost during the book burnings ordered by Emperor Qin. Paper changed everything! Scroll painting began. That brought new wealth into China, along with gold, silver, and precious gems.Īnother was the invention of paper. There was a demand in the Roman Empire for Chinese silk. One of the most important was the trade that had begun with ancient Rome via the " silk road". Many new things happened during Han times.
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