Advantages And Disadvantages Of Western Han Dynasty

486 Words1 Page

During the Western Han dynasty for the reason of raising money for defending Xiong Nu. Government monopolizes two major good of trading: salt and iron. In 81BCE, the Lord Grand Secretary Sang Hong Yang and a group of Confucian scholars gathered together to debate this monopoly policy. In my opinion, the benefit of having this monopoly outweighs its disadvantages. This monopoly could achieve three main feats: Having enough funds for fighting Xiong Nu. Improve the economics and consolidate the emperor’s Mandate of Heaven. Control prices of two important goods.
First of all, the money that monopoly helps the government earned could be used to fight against Xiong Nu. The Xiong Nu have been steeling and robbing China’s sovereignty and border recently. The only way Western Han could defend is fighting a war against Xiong Nu, and for fighting a war government needs lots of money and soldiers. But if the government ignores the incursions, then the Western Han dynasty will lose a lot of …show more content…

The emperor’s power will also be consolidate by increase the general happiness of people and to make diplomatic relationship with other countries. If the Xiong Nu was defeated, the government will have chance to trade with other country beside China. The Silk Road will be cleared and goods could be import out of China. So Western Han dynasties economic will improve dramatically. Diplomatic relations will also be establish, this means making friend with foreign countries. This help the emperor consolidate power, so no other country will try to attack the Western Han dynasty. People on China’s border will not suffer anymore from hunger and cold, their working efficiency and general happiness will increase. (DOC B) People are happy in a country, which means that people will have a little chance to rebel. This also consolidates the Mandate of Heaven for the Western Han

Open Document