In this episode of The Han Dynasty: China's First Golden Age, Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable Han census, one of the earliest systematic population counts in world history. They delve into the meticulous records of the Han shu, which documented over 57 million people across the empire's 103 princedoms and commanderies. The conversation uncovers how bamboo slips and local registrars tracked households, assessed taxes, and managed corvée labor. They discuss the challenges of counting a vast, rural population, the role of the census in state control, and comparisons to Roman practices. Specific figures like Emperor Guangwu and officials like the census-takers of the Han bureaucracy come to life. The episode also touches on modern archaeological finds of census records in Juyan and Dunhuang, showing how these ancient documents survived. It's a deep dive into the nuts and bolts of Han governance, revealing how the state saw its people.
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