The Han Dynasty (202 BCE - 220 CE) was the second dynasty of Imperial China (the era of centralized, dynastic government, 221 BCE - 1912 CE) which established the paradigm for all succeeding dynasties up through 1912 CE. It succeeded the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) and was followed by the Period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280 CE).
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Definition
Timeline
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206 BCE - 9 CEThe Western Han dynasty rules China from their capital in Chang'an.
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202 BCE - 220 CEHan Dynasty reigns in China.
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202 BCELiu-Bang of Han establishes the Han Dynasty in China.
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202 BCELiu Bang is proclaimed emperor of China after defeating the rival general Xiang Yu.
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Mar 202 BCEEmperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) becomes the first Han ruler.
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195 BCELiu Bang dies. His empress Lü Zhi (also known as Lü Hou) rules through puppet kings for her own benefit for the next fifteen years.
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141 BCE - 87 BCEHan Emperor Wu abandons Legalism in favor of Confucianism.
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141 BCE - 87 BCEReign of Emperor Wu (Wu the Great), the most effective and influential of the Han monarchs.
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140 BCE - 87 BCEHan emperor Wu rules and expands Han territory in China.
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138 BCE - 126 BCEZhang Qian, as envoy of Emperor Wu, opens up the 'Silk Road' trading route between China and central Asia.
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117 BCE - 100 BCEHan emperors extend the western part of the Great Wall of China.
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109 BCEChinese Han Empire conquers the kingdom of Tien.
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108 BCEWiman Joseon is conquered by the Han dynasty.
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104 BCE - 101 BCEThe War of the Heavenly Horses, general Li Guangli forces the city of Da Yuan (Alexandria Eschate) into tributary status.
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2 CEChang'an, the imperial capital of China, had a population of nearly 250 thousand people.
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9 CEWang Mang takes control of the empire by usurping the throne and proclaiming his innovative dynasty called Xin ("new").
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23 CEThe sack of Chang'an, imperial capital of China.
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c. 23 CEAfter the sack of Chang'an, Liu Xiu led his loyal officials to the city of Luoyang, where the Chinese imperial capital was relocated.
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25 CE - 220 CEThe Eastern Han dynasty rules China.
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91 CEThe Han dynasty of China invades Mongolia.
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105 CEInvention of fine paper-making process by Cai Lun.
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148 CEAn Shigao is the first Buddhist translator mentioned in Chinese sources who established a translation centre in the Chinese imperial capital, Luoyang.
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c. 155 CE - 220 CELife of Cao Cao, Chinese military dictator and founder of the Wei state.
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160 CEChinese Han empire in decline.
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184 CEThe Yellow Turban rebellion breaks out when local government offices are attacked across China.
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184 CE - 192 CEThe 'Yellow Turban' rebellion is quashed by the Han in China.
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184 CEA large peasant uprising known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion (sometimes referred to as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion) threatened the city of Luoyang.
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189 CELuoyang, the Han capital, is sacked by the Chinese warlord Dong Zhuo.
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190 CELuoyang, the Han capital in China, is burned.
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190 CEDong Zhou seized control of the Chinese imperial capital and placed a child, Liu Xie, as the new ruler.
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205 CECao Cao takes over the former Han government and appoints himself chancellor, in effect, a military dictator.
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215 CECao Cao represses for good the Yellow Turban rebellion in China.
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220 CELiu Xie abdicated the throne. Wars between warlords and states continued and China would have to wait about 350 years to be unified again.
