Contributions of the

Han

 Continued...

Salt and Iron Industries:

Earlier discoveries and inventions of iron-making and salt-mining were developed into industries. The Han government took over these two industries and monopolized them. This meant that no one except for the government was allowed to make iron or mine salt. Because of this the people who wanted iron or salt were forced to buy them from the government. This proved to be a good source of revenue for the government.

Iron making was the most important industry during the Han period. This was because iron was manufactured for different uses such as the making of farming tools and of weapons like swords/spear heads.

Salt was also very important to the Chinese. The Chinese searched for salt by drilling deep into the ground. Salty water was then drawn up and carried by bamboo poles to pans and heated. The water then evaporated leaving behind salt crystals.

These were few of the Han inventions which were recorded. The achievements of the Han period were so many that some of them have been forgotten by the Chinese themselves. Many of their ideas and inventions however, have 'traveled' to other parts of the world. For example, the modern idea of having nationwide examinations had its early beginnings in the days of Han Wudi.

Click HERE to read about the person who recorded much of Chinese history as we know it today.