An Era of Accomplishment
►The Han
dynasty established a cyclical pattern of dynastic succession and overthrow enduring until the 20th century.
►A core of
lasting Chinese cultural values emerged: political unity, rule by an emperor and a professional bureaucracy, and scholar-gentry dominance.
►Cultural
differences persisted between the legacies of Confucius and Laozi, and an elite-mass gap continued because only a very few became literate.
►Still, the Han
presided over the development of one of
the most creative civilizations in world history.
►The basic
components of the lasting and influential Chinese civilization had been established.