The Chinese show their pride in Han accomplishments by calling themselves the Han people. Philosophies and institutions that began in the Chou and Ch'in periods reached maturity under the Han. During Han times, the Chinese distinguished themselves in making scientific discoveries, many of which were not known to Westerners until centuries later. The Chinese were most advanced in astronomy. They invented sundials and water clocks, divided the day equally into ten and then into 12 periods, devised the lunar calendar that continued to be used until 1912, and recorded sunspots regularly. In mathematics, the Chinese were the first to use the place value system, whereby the value of a component of a number is indicated by its placement. Other innovations were of a more practical nature: wheelbarrows, locks to control water levels in streams and canals, and compasses.

The Han Chinese were especially distinguished in the field of art. The famous sculpture of the "Han flying horse" and the carving of the jade burial suit found in Han period tombs are on

 Fatalistic philosophy of Wang Ch'ung: He as very skeptical about man's ability to influence events in any way and about Heaven's inclination to give out good and evil appropriately.

 Centralization of power and defeudalization: stripped the nobility of their status and wealth, and transformed their nominal fiefs into commanderies and districts.

 state control and regulation of food prices and supplies

 Court disarray: court intrigues of palace eunuchs and rulers' maternal relatives.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1621
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)