Page 65 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol III

884 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Politics are about power; we cannot evade that truth or its consequences.
We dream of a better world but it is in Utopia—that is, nowhere.
Denis William Brogan (1900–1974)

laws are trials, theft and kidnapping, land tenure, com- conducted diplomatic and military activities in central
merce (regulation of merchants, financial transactions, Asia,established relationships with more than thirty king-
debt), the family (women, marriage, inheritance, adop- doms or tribes, and was instrumental in establishment of
tion), assault, professional fees and rates of hire, and a new trade route, the Silk Road, which connected China
slave holding. Although it is not the earliest such collec- with the West. Until the advent of overseas travel during
tion of laws in Mesopotamia, it is by far the most com- the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Silk Road
prehensive. The interesting fact has been noted by connected East and West and facilitated the diffusion of
scholars that Hammurabi’s “Code” is almost never commodities, food, culture, and technology.
referred to in the many legal texts attested from the Han Wudi’s birth name was “Liu Che.” He was the
period. Hammurabi and his code, however, remain of fourth son of Emperor Jing, and his mother was a con-
historic import because of the massive nature of the code sort. In 150 BCE Jing named Han Wudi’s mother, Lady
—both as a physical monument and as the first such Wang, empress and named Han Wudi his heir. At age
extensive collection of laws discovered. sixteen Han Wudi ascended to the throne, but his grand-
mother, Empress Dowager Dou, conducted the affairs of
John Huehnergard
state.Empress Dowager Dou favored the early Han prac-
See also Babylon; Mesopotamia tice of Huang Lao, named after the legendary Huang Di
(Yellow Emperor) and Laozi (Lao-tzu, Lao Tsu),author of
the Daoist work Daodejing (Classic of the Way of Power).
Further Reading Huang Lao was characterized by frugality in government
Kuhrt, A. (1995). The ancient Near East, c. 3000–330 BC. London: spending, light taxation, laissez-fair (a doctrine opposing
Routledge.
Oates, J. (1986). Babylon (Rev. ed). New York: Thames & Hudson. government interference in economic affairs), and
Sasson, J. M. (1995). King Hammurabi of Babylon. In J. M. Sasson (Ed.), appeasement in foreign relations. After the death of
Civilizations of the ancient Near East (Vol. 2, pp. 901–915). New
York: Scribner’s. Empress Dowager Dou in 135 BCE Han Wudi ruled and
changed the course of government.
Han Wudi was a vigorous emperor who aspired to a
strong dynasty and sought capable officials to assist him.
He gave special exams on governance and personally
Han Wudi read examinees’ essays. He recruited gifted officials,
(156–87 bce) including Dong Zhongshu and Gong Sunhong.The for-
Chinese emperor mer became the spokesman for Han Confucianism, and
the latter became chief minister and persuaded Wudi to
an Wudi, the fifth emperor of the Han dynasty establish an imperial university of Confucian learning.
H(206 BCE–220 CE), was one of the most influential Ironically scholars often call the emperor who made
emperors in Chinese history. He consolidated the author- Confucianism the state ideology a“legalist.” Legalism had
ity of the central government and expanded the territory been the ideology of the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE).
of the dynasty. He named Confucianism the state ideol- Legalists advocated strong rulers, a strong empire, and
ogy; it has influenced Chinese government and society harsh punishment. Legalism was still viable in the early
ever since. His principles of recruiting government offi- Han dynasty, and Wudi was influenced by it. He elimi-
cials based on Confucian learning and on virtue and nated the power of China’s princedoms and was relentless
merit remained in use until the end of the imperial dynas- in executing officials, including chief ministers who broke
tiesduringtheearlytwentiethcentury.Heforgedalliances, the law or failed in their work. He also pursued a vigorous