Opinion Piece

Liu Bang for Emperor

By Delaney Branigan

     Lui Bang (256 - 195 BC), is the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. He led a revolt against the Qin Dynasty and founded the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang is the best emporer for the young empire because he is a good malitary leader and determined to do the best for the empire. In 209 BC, Lui Bang heald the banner that represented the rebellion agaist the Qin Dynasty. After two years of fighting the Qin Dynasty with his partner, Xiang Yu, they finally defeated the tyranical Qins. "At that time, Xiang Yu, the director of another rebellion group, was very angry to hear that Liu had captured Xianyang ahead of him. For the next four years, Xiang and Liu waged a war to vie for the throne, namely Chu-Han War. The war ended with the victory of Liu Bang" (Liu Bang - Emperor Gaozu of Western Han). After Lui Bang had become ruler, he created the Han Dynasty, a strong empire that will with no doubt prosper for hundreds of years. The fact that Liu Bang defeated both his enemy and his former allie to the throne shows that he is a very strong military leader and would be a good leader for the Han Dynasty.  

     Lui Bang will do anything to make the Han Empire a better place. He fought a bloody war against the Qins for six years to help the peope of the Han Dynasty. Lui Bang can also add a lot to the empire. "As an outstanding politician, strategist and director, he made great contributions to the development of Han people and its culture"  (Liu Bang - Emperor Gaozu of Western Han). Lui Bang is the best person to lead this nation becasue he is well rounded and knows how to delegate. He made Han Xin, Xiao He, Ji Bu and Ding Gong rule a small part of the empire, so he did not have to rule the whole giganic empire by himself. "In the annuals of Chinese history, Liu Bang was regarded as an emperor who contributed a tremendous amount to the prosperity of the Han Dynasty" (Liu Bang - Emperor Gaozu of Western Han). With Liu Bang with our emperor, the China will become more powerful then it ever has been.

                                                                          Lui Bang

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/han/liubang.htm

Front Page News Story

Delaney Branigan, staff writer

 Revelutionary New Invention!

By Delaney Branigan

     On April 26 104 Ated paper to make a quicker and more efficiant way to comunicate.  

     No longer did anyone have to lug around heavy wooden slaps and baboo strips around! Instead, they can just keep a peice of paper in your pocket. Witing a letter to someone was much safer than asking a mesenger to repeat the message to someone. There was a more likely chance a message would become distorted, although there was a chance someone could tamper with the paper. War tactics could have been  traded quickly and easily, making the empire safer. Education became easier to teach and lean. Students could practice writing on paper instead of carving into wooden slabs. Because paper is was cheap, and no one had to spend money on more expensive writimg materials, families had more money to spend on important things, like food and clothing.

                                    

                                          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papermaking

   

Inventions

 

         The invention of iron tools can be credited to the Han Dynsasty. Although some people had already used cast iron, it was the people of the Han Dynasty that perfected the process. There is no record of just one person creating cast iron. It was more a group effort from the blacksmiths of the Han Dynasty.  These Blacksmiths used furnaces to make pig iron from ore. Later, they figured out how to make cast iron. Not may people could afford furnaces, so making cast iron was very expensive expensive to make. It was also sold for a very high price, making it very valuable. A typical iron workshop usually consisted of about 12 workers and 150 slaves.

     The invention of cast iron greatly changed the Han Dynasty. Tools were revelutionized, as well as weapons and domestic wares. Because of cast iron weapons, the Han Dynasty was able to protect itself from attackers. The risk of invasion was greatly diminished. Most imporantly, agrucultural tools became better. They were lighter and easy to work with than the old ones the farmers were using. Farms were able to grow more crops. This led to a surplus of food, so everybody had a enough food to feed thier family. Also, more crops meant more famers, so the unemplyed got work. This led to less hunger, less poverty, and less homelesness, over all creating a better lifestyle for the population of the Han Dynasty.

Cast iron scissors from the Han Dynasty  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Dynasty

Map and geography of the Han Dynasty

http://www.mitchellteachers.org/WorldHistory/AncientChinaCurriculum/DailyLifeintheHanDynastyAssignment.htm

The Han Dynasty is not only known for its culture and innovation, but also for the large expansion of territory during this time. The Han Dynasty was sorted into systems of  fiefs and princedoms. A feif is a part of the feudal system where a noble or ruler gives someone a piece of land in turn for an alliance or service. A princedom is a piece of land ruled by a monarch whose title is a prince. The Han Dynasty was split into two sections, the Western and Eastern Han. During the Western Han the capital was Chang'an. The capital of the Eastrn Han was Luoyang. Most expansion of the Han Dynasty took place under Han Wudi’s rule.