Interested in the Han Dynasty

C

Cachibatches

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Greetings,

I am an ancient military history nut, and stumbled onto this websight when I found the ROME VERSUS HAN DYSNASTY thread searching for information on the Han armies.

I have been largely unsuccessful in my quest to find detailed accounts of the battles, tactics, weaponary, and formations of the Han. Wikepedia has the names of the battles, and some cursory details. The Chinese repeater crossbow that came out of the era is famous. I have learned that they had steel weapons, and that they used cavalry archers trained like the Hsiong-Nu opponents.

My question: Where can I find good sources for further reading? I would like deatiled accounts of the great battles. I would really love to know about their formations and tactics.

I would appreciate any help.
 
B

BLUEJACKET

Banned Idiot
The best place is your local or university library.
The Han dynasty, after which the members of the ethnic majority in China, the "people of Han," are named, was notable also for its military prowess. The empire expanded westward as far as the rim of the Tarim Basin (in modern Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region), making possible relatively secure caravan traffic across Central Asia to Antioch, Baghdad, and Alexandria. The paths of caravan traffic are often called the "silk route" () because the route was used to export Chinese silk to the Roman Empire. Chinese armies also invaded and annexed parts of northern Vietnam and northern Korea toward the end of the second century B.C. Han control of peripheral regions was generally insecure, however. To ensure peace with non-Chinese local powers, the Han court developed a mutually beneficial "tributary system" (). Non-Chinese states were allowed to remain autonomous in exchange for symbolic acceptance of Han overlordship. Tributary ties were confirmed and strengthened through intermarriages at the ruling level and periodic exchanges of gifts and goods.
After 200 years, Han rule was interrupted briefly (in A.D. 9-24 by Wang Mang or , a reformer), and then restored for another 200 years. The Han rulers, however, were unable to adjust to what centralization had wrought: a growing population, increasing wealth and resultant financial difficulties and rivalries, and ever-more complex political institutions. Riddled with the corruption characteristic of the dynastic cycle, by A.D. 220 the Han empire collapsed.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
Click to expand...
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
 
szbd

szbd

Junior Member
I think if you are really serious on this issue, you have to learn Chinese. The best book on ancient Chinese military is Chinese Military History (中国军事通史) by China Academy of Military Science (中国军事科学院)
 
E

Ernst

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Yes, But I have read 《秦汉制度史论》,concerning about the laws, politics during Qin and Han dynasty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top