Aylin Galvan
Bridgforth / Hardy
World Experience
24 September 2015
Wudi vs. Wang Mang
Wudi is recognized as the most powerful of all Han emperors, changing the government and economy, and expanding China. Although Wang Mang forcibly took over the charge of the Han dynasty, and created the Xin dynasty, the Han recovered (Blackwell). Wang Mang was known as the greatest tyrant, and for inciting a Civil War, and turning his people against him. Because Wudi created changes that changed China for the better, he deserves more recognition in books than Wang Mang.
Wudi ruled from 141 B.C. to 87 B.C., and during his reign he improved China. He expanded the Han dynasty to southern China and Vietnam and later recovered Korea. He also established Confucianism as China state’s religi. “ His administrative reforms left an enduring mark on the Chinese state, and his exclusive recognition of Confucianism had a permanent effect on subsequent East Asian history.” (Encyclopedia Britannica ,“Wudi”). In comparison to Wudi, Wang Mang ruled from A.D. 8 to A.D. 23. although he made a wide range of reforms, his efforts only caused problems with strong
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Wudi also began the Silk Road, by sending Zhang Qian to the West, which caused a relation with the countries of Xinjiang and central Asia. Even though Wang Mang tried to distribute the land equally and make constant currency reforms, it affected large landforms, making property values lower and the interests of merchants and commoners to explode. Wang Mang also nationalized his states and readjusted it to the peasantry, which caused him to lose his throne and life. He attempted to help by making loans for the poor by collecting taxes from the wealthy, which to some may seem good-hearted, but the rich it was