Preliminary Study Of The Natural Disasters In The Han Dynasty

With a thorough study of the historic natural calamities inHan Dynasty, the thesis focuses on two points: Firstly, through a consider-ation of the natural calamities in the period on a whole and a research intosome examples respectively, the thesis discussess the general characteristics,regularity and the causes of the natural calamities, as well as the preventiveand rescue measures, aiming at providing the modern people with some references. Secondly, the thesis sees from the angle of natrual calamities andreaches a conclusion that the frequency and degree of calamities is a vital influence power for the agricultrual country Han. It is the one of the most important factors that may resu1t in prosperity or depression in the country. InHan Dynasty, the periodic undulation of natural calamities goes side by sidewith the periodic undulation of the conditions of the country. The so calledby historians: the Development in Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing's forand the Prosperity in Emperor Zhao and Emperor Xuan's Age are both theperiods with lower rate of natural calamities, while the economic depressionin the late years of Emperor Wu's reign and the quick overthrow of the reignof Wang Mang occured exactly in the periods with frequent calamities. Thusto say, the reign of Xin was not defeated only by man, but by the combinedforce of natural calamities and human power.