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The Qin Dynasty was a brutal and oppressive dynasty that conquered the many territories that were previously in China and united them into one large empire. Due to the oppressive nature of this dynasty, they were overthrown after multiple uprisings and revolts.
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The First Emperor of the Western Han Dynasty was known for his encouragement of arts as well as his focus on recruiting members of the government based off ability and not wealth or status.
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He repealed much of the harshest of the laws left over from the Qin Dynasty but otherwise was mostly a puppet for his mother, Empress Dowager Lu.
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He was known for his love of his people and so he reduced tax burdens and encouraged thriftiness and frugal spending as well as introducing civil service exams to screen those who would try to take advantage of governmental authority.
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Similar to his father, Emperor Wen, he reduced tax burdens as well and sought to help the economic strain on lower classes, though he was known to be harsher and less forgiving.
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Known for achieving the most peaceful and prosperous time in the Western Han Dynasty. He also dispatched generals to fight against the Huns and provided safety for trade routes. Also known for the creation of the Silk Road.
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Under him the dynasty prospered economically and militarily and became the regional superpower. He grew up among commoners and this translated into his policies as emperor. He consolidated his power by removing corrupt officials and spent much of his time studying legal cases.
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He started the practice of placing followers of Confucianism into governmental positions over people who were more able to fulfill those positions. This led to the slow deterioration of the government over time, aided by his inability to stop in-fighting.
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Under his rule the government continued its downward spiral due to no attempts to intervene or stabilize. Many rebellions started breaking out as the government became more corrupt.
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He never officially ascended to the position of emperor and was used as a puppet until he was locked away. He signals the end of the Western Han Dynasty and is often seen as purely a victim.
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Wang Mang overthrew the Western Han Dynasty and established the Xin Dynasty, which was short-lived, ending once he died. After his death the Eastern Han Dynasty was founded which lasted from 25-220 CE.