The small landowner-cultivators formed the majority of the Han tax base; this revenue was threatened during the latter half of Eastern Han when many peasants fell into debt and were forced to work as farming tenants for wealthy landlords. The Han government enacted reforms in order to keep small landowner-cultivators out of debt and on their own farms. These reforms included reducing taxes, temporary remissions of taxes, granting loans and providing landless peasants temporary lodging and work in agricultural colonies until they could recover from their debts. COUNT 5
QSN1 Which group made up the bulk of the Han tax base? ANS1 landowner-cultivators QSN2 Who made reductions in the taxes that landowner-cultivators were forced to pay? ANS2 The Han government QSN3 During what period did a large number of peasants incur debt? ANS3 Eastern Han QSN4 What type of housing did the Han government provide to landless indebted peasants? ANS4 temporary QSN5 What did the Han government do to help out smaller landowners? ANS5 enacted reforms