The Greatest Emperor of the Han Dynasty: Wu Di
Digvijay Naruka
History 131
Dr. Peifer
October 25, 2014 Emperor Wu di, born in 157 BCE, took control over the throne after his father died in the year 141 BCE and reigned as emperor for 54 years. He politically stabilized the Han Empire. During his reign, the empire expanded. The empire extended financially during his reign. Han Wudi became the greatest emperor in the Han dynasty as he made the empire politically stable, expanded the empire, and facilitated trade.
Emperor Wu di steadied the Han Empire politically. Before his reign, the Han Empire was decentralized and politically unstable. Too much power was held by the relatives of the previous emperors, who governed large areas. “When …show more content…
After the death of Grand Empress Dowager Dou in 135, Emperor Wu gained complete control over the government of his kingdom and gained the resolute will to develop the empire which would reach its extent, and it was then he started expanding his Empire in all directions. “Chinese armies penetrated into southern Manchuria and Korea to the northeast and into south and southwest China and northern Vietnam. In these areas comraderies could be established over farming people. Only on the north and northwest was there an unstable frontier”(Fairbank, p-61). A nomadic group of people called Xiongu, had often raided the Chinese colonies on the northern border since the time of the first emperor. These people were the greatest threat to the Han Empire. Unlike previous Emperors who bribed and sent gifts to these nomads to keep them away, Emperor Wu used a different strategy. He first expanded The Great Wall of China, then sent his armies to defeat them and conquer their territories. As mentioned on a website called Facts and Details,
“Under Emperor Wu Di, the boundaries of China expanded north into Mongolia, west into Turkestan, east into Korea and south into Indochina. In many cases the Han expanded to head off threats and create a buffer zone around the Han heartland. After lands were conquered settlers were encouraged to move there to firm up China’s claim on the land” (Hays, para.
Digvijay Naruka
History 131
Dr. Peifer
October 25, 2014 Emperor Wu di, born in 157 BCE, took control over the throne after his father died in the year 141 BCE and reigned as emperor for 54 years. He politically stabilized the Han Empire. During his reign, the empire expanded. The empire extended financially during his reign. Han Wudi became the greatest emperor in the Han dynasty as he made the empire politically stable, expanded the empire, and facilitated trade.
Emperor Wu di steadied the Han Empire politically. Before his reign, the Han Empire was decentralized and politically unstable. Too much power was held by the relatives of the previous emperors, who governed large areas. “When …show more content…
After the death of Grand Empress Dowager Dou in 135, Emperor Wu gained complete control over the government of his kingdom and gained the resolute will to develop the empire which would reach its extent, and it was then he started expanding his Empire in all directions. “Chinese armies penetrated into southern Manchuria and Korea to the northeast and into south and southwest China and northern Vietnam. In these areas comraderies could be established over farming people. Only on the north and northwest was there an unstable frontier”(Fairbank, p-61). A nomadic group of people called Xiongu, had often raided the Chinese colonies on the northern border since the time of the first emperor. These people were the greatest threat to the Han Empire. Unlike previous Emperors who bribed and sent gifts to these nomads to keep them away, Emperor Wu used a different strategy. He first expanded The Great Wall of China, then sent his armies to defeat them and conquer their territories. As mentioned on a website called Facts and Details,
“Under Emperor Wu Di, the boundaries of China expanded north into Mongolia, west into Turkestan, east into Korea and south into Indochina. In many cases the Han expanded to head off threats and create a buffer zone around the Han heartland. After lands were conquered settlers were encouraged to move there to firm up China’s claim on the land” (Hays, para.