Han dynasty

Introduction & Top Questions
History of the Han dynasty
Cultural achievements of the Han dynasty

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Map showing the Han Empire's territory around 100 BCE, shaded in orange, covering much of eastern China and extending westward. The map also marks the boundary of modern China and highlights the Great Wall running along the northern frontier, built for protection against the Huns. Major rivers and the capital, Chang'an (Xi'an), are labeled.

Han dynasty: drawing of landscape scenes

Han dynasty: Horse and Swallow tomb sculpture

Map showing the extent of China under Emperor Wudi of the Han dynasty, with the empire highlighted in orange. Key cities, regions, and rivers are labeled, including the Great Wall marking the northern frontier and the Takla Makan Desert to the west. An inset map displays earlier territorial divisions and states. Surrounding regions such as Xiongnu, Yue, and various seas are also indicated.

Chinese sculpture during the Han dynasty examined

At a Glance

Han dynasty summary

Related Questions

How could a person of modest wealth enter the Han bureaucracy?
How did Buddhism reach China during the Han dynasty?
How did Daoist beliefs and practices begin to develop during the Han period?
How did Emperor Wudi standardize Han coinage?
How did Han emperors communicate their decisions to officials?
How did Han expansion help establish the Silk Road?
How did Han governments deal with the Xiongnu before Emperor Wudi's military campaigns?
How did Han nobles receive income without governing their territories?
How did Han rulers use Confucian ideas to govern China?
How did Liu Bang become the Gaozu emperor of the Han dynasty?
How did Wang Mang interrupt Han rule and establish the Xin dynasty?
How did Zhang Qian's journeys influence Han expansion into Central Asia?
How did large estates weaken the Han central government in the dynasty's final years?
How did rivalry between eunuchs and the families of imperial consorts weaken the Eastern Han court?
How did the Great Wall help protect Han travelers and control frontier traffic?
How did the Han civil service recruit government officials?
How did the Han government organize its armies to limit the power of individual generals?
How did the Han government preserve and standardize important Chinese texts?
How did the Inner Court gain power over the Han Outer Court?
How did the fall of the Han dynasty lead to the Three Kingdoms period?
How did the number of Han commanderies change during the Western Han period?
How many people and households were counted in the Han census of 2 CE?
How was Han civil-service recruitment different from the later Chinese examination system?
What duties did prefects perform in Han commanderies?
What jobs were handled by the nine Han ministers of state?
What labor service did able-bodied Han men owe to the state?
What punishments were used under Han law?
What responsibilities did the Han chancellor and imperial counselor have?
What rewards could Han rulers give for military service or good administration?
What scientific and technological achievements are associated with the Han dynasty?
When was paper reported to the Han throne and what materials had been used for writing before it?
Why did Emperor Wudi create state monopolies on salt and iron?
Why did Wang Mang's attempt to abolish private landownership fail?
Why did eunuchs sometimes become influential in the Han imperial court?
Why did powerful families gain influence over Han local government offices?
Why did the Han dynasty extend the Great Wall toward Dunhuang?
Why did the Han government appoint regional inspectors in 106 BCE?
Why did the Han government duplicate some official duties?
Why did the Xiongnu pose a threat to the Han empire?
Why do many Chinese people use the name Han for their ethnic identity?
Why was Chang'an important during the Western Han dynasty?
Why were censuses and land registers important to Han government?
What is the Han dynasty?
What is the Han dynasty known for?
How did the Han dynasty fall?
Why was the Huajiang Canyon Bridge built?
What is Mount Kailash, and where is it located?
Why is Mount Kailash significant in Hinduism?
What is the importance of Mount Kailash in Buddhism and Jainism?
What is the pilgrimage practice around Mount Kailash?
What is the one-child policy?
When was the one-child policy introduced?

History Historic Dynasties & Families

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External Websites

UW Departments Web Server - The Han Empire
Open Washington Pressbooks - Early World Civilizations - The Rise of the Han Dynasty
The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Han Dynasty
Smart History - Han dynasty (206 B.C.E.ï¿½220 C.E.), an introduction
UEN Digital Press with Pressbooks - HIST-1500: World History Â– Cultures, States, and Societies to 1500 - The Han Dynasty, 202 BCE Â– 220 CE
Humanities LibreTexts - Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 229 CE)
Association for Asian Studies - China Versus the Barbarians: The First Century of Han-Xiongnu Relations
Asian Art Museum - Education - An Introduction to the Han Dynasty
Ancient History Encyclopedia - Han Dynasty
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Philosophy in Han Dynasty China

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Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Han dynasty - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Han dynasty - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Han dynasty

Chinese history

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Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026 •History

Han dynasty, the second great imperial dynasty of China (206 bce–220 ce), after the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bce). It succeeded the Qin dynasty (221–207 bce). So thoroughly did the Han dynasty establish what was thereafter considered Chinese culture that “Han” became the Chinese word denoting someone who is ethnically Chinese. The dynasty was founded by Liu Bang, later the Gaozu emperor (reigned 206–195 bce), a man of humble birth who led the revolt against the...

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