Han culture had a huge impact on modern China, and its effects still resonate today. The Chinese even call themselves the "people of the Han". Trade from the Silk Road brought Greek and Roman influence; however, the culture remained, for the most part, Han.
The replaced he literature and music that was lost during the Ch"in Dynasty's book burning. They painted murals and walls of huge palaces. The very popular art of scroll painting began, and craftsmen made jewelry, carvings, ornaments, belt hooks, paintings with wire thin brush strokes, and many other luxury items. Iron production increased with the growing demand for plows and cast iron products. Pots were painted with hunting scenes, trees, clouds, dragons, tigers, and bears. They researched medicine to increase longevity and cure disease; and they invented acupuncture. They also researched science - creating paper and an early form of a seismograph to detect earthquakes in other parts of the country in order to send help.
The Confucian influence meant that there were many public schools that taught Confucian philosophy. The schools were for boys only and each providence had one. The largest school was the Grand School in Luoyang. At one point, it had over 30,000 students.
However, all was not good. The poor lived in packed houses and have very little in the way of food and sanitation. Many young males from poor families joined gangs that terrorized the people. On the other hand, the rich lived large, comfortable houses built around a central courtyard. They had large furniture that showed Green and Roman influence. Their children were well educated, and they feasted on elaborate and exotic foods.
Much of the population lived in the country. There, families would team up on communal farms. They would eat what they grew and sell the rest.