Han Dynasty Timeline

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206 BCE - 9 CE

The Western Han dynasty rules China from their capital in Chang'an.
202 BCE

Liu-Bang of Han establishes the Han Dynasty in China.
202 BCE - 220 CE

Han Dynasty reigns in China.
202 BCE

Liu Bang is proclaimed emperor of China after defeating the rival general Xiang Yu.
Mar 202 BCE

Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang) becomes the first Han ruler.
195 BCE

Liu Bang dies. His empress Lü Zhi (also known as Lü Hou) rules through puppet kings for her own benefit for the next fifteen years.
141 BCE - 87 BCE

Reign of Emperor Wu (Wu the Great), the most effective and influential of the Han monarchs.
141 BCE - 87 BCE

Han Emperor Wu abandons Legalism in favor of Confucianism.
140 BCE - 87 BCE

Han emperor Wu rules and expands Han territory in China.
138 BCE - 126 BCE

Zhang Qian, as envoy of Emperor Wu, opens up the 'Silk Road' trading route between China and central Asia.
117 BCE - 100 BCE

Han emperors extend the western part of the Great Wall of China.
109 BCE

Chinese Han Empire conquers the kingdom of Tien.
108 BCE

Wiman Joseon is conquered by the Han dynasty.
104 BCE - 101 BCE

The War of the Heavenly Horses, general Li Guangli forces the city of Da Yuan (Alexandria Eschate) into tributary status.
2 CE

Chang'an, the imperial capital of China, had a population of nearly 250 thousand people.
9 CE

Wang Mang takes control of the empire by usurping the throne and proclaiming his innovative dynasty called Xin ("new").
23 CE

The sack of Chang'an, imperial capital of China.
c. 23 CE

After the sack of Chang'an, Liu Xiu led his loyal officials to the city of Luoyang, where the Chinese imperial capital was relocated.
25 CE - 220 CE

The Eastern Han dynasty rules China.
91 CE

The Han dynasty of China invades Mongolia.
105 CE

Invention of fine paper-making process by Cai Lun.
148 CE

An Shigao is the first Buddhist translator mentioned in Chinese sources who established a translation centre in the Chinese imperial capital, Luoyang.
c. 155 CE - 220 CE

Life of Cao Cao, Chinese military dictator and founder of the Wei state.
160 CE

Chinese Han empire in decline.
184 CE - 192 CE

The 'Yellow Turban' rebellion is quashed by the Han in China.
184 CE

A large peasant uprising known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion (sometimes referred to as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion) threatened the city of Luoyang.
184 CE

The Yellow Turban rebellion breaks out when local government offices are attacked across China.
189 CE

Luoyang, the Han capital, is sacked by the Chinese warlord Dong Zhuo.
190 CE

Luoyang, the Han capital in China, is burned.
190 CE

Dong Zhou seized control of the Chinese imperial capital and placed a child, Liu Xie, as the new ruler.
205 CE

Cao Cao takes over the former Han government and appoints himself chancellor, in effect, a military dictator.
215 CE

Cao Cao represses for good the Yellow Turban rebellion in China.
220 CE

Liu Xie abdicated the throne. Wars between warlords and states continued and China would have to wait about 350 years to be unified again.