Fifty-nine million people in the Han empire
A census counted fifty-nine million people in the Han empire.
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History of Imperial China (Qin and Han dynasties)
221 BC to 220
China
Major events in the Early sub-period include the Qin unification of China and their replacement by the Han, the First Split followed by the Jin unification, and the loss of north China.
Ban Biao
Ping of Han established a national school system.
Ping died
Ping died after being poisoned by Wang Mang, who became acting emperor.
Liu Xin completed a star catalogue and calculated the length of the year
Liu Xin completed a star catalogue and calculated the length of the year.
Wang Mang declared himself emperor of the Xin dynasty
Wang Mang declared himself emperor of the Xin dynasty.
Wang introduced an income tax of ten percent for professionals
Wang Mang introduced an income tax of ten percent for professionals and skilled laborers.
Mother Lü initiated a rebellion against a county magistrate in Haiqu County
Mother Lü initiated a rebellion against a county magistrate in Haiqu County, near modern Rizhao.
Battle of Kunyang
Lülin forces broke the siege of Kunyang, in modern Ye County, by a vastly superior Xin army.
Lülin rebels stormed the Weiyang Palace and killed Wang
Lülin rebels stormed the Weiyang Palace and killed Wang. The Gengshi Emperor ascended the throne, restoring the Han dynasty.
Gengshi Emperor was executed
The Gengshi Emperor was executed.
Red Eyebrows appointed Liu Penzi their emperor
The Red Eyebrows appointed Liu Penzi their emperor.
Emperor Guangwu of Han took the title emperor
The Han warlord Emperor Guangwu of Han took the title emperor.
The Red Eyebrows surrendered to the Han dynasty
The Red Eyebrows surrendered to the Han dynasty.
Ban Gu is born
Ban Gu, the co-author of the Book of Han, is born.
Vietnam fell into Han control
Vietnam fell into Han control.
Ming of Han
Guangwu died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Ming of Han.
The Buddhist White Horse Temple was established
The Buddhist White Horse Temple was established in Luoyang.
Battle of Yiwulu
A punitive Han expedition against the Xiongnu captured territory in the area of modern Hami City.
Zhang of Han
Ming died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Zhang of Han.
Wang Chong correctly theorized the nature of the water cycle
Wang Chong correctly theorized the nature of the water cycle.
Jin Midi died
Jin Midi died.
He of Han
Zhang died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor He of Han.
Battle of the Altai Mountains
Han and allied forces defeated the army of the Northern Chanyu and accepted the surrender of two hundred thousand Xiongnu soldiers in the Altai Mountains.
Xu Shen completed the Shuowen Jiezi
Xu Shen completed the Shuowen Jiezi.
He of Han died
He of Han died.
Shang of Han
He's infant son Emperor Shang of Han was made emperor of Han with empress dowager Deng Sui acting as regent.
Cai Lun invented papermaking
Cai Lun invented papermaking.
Shang of Han died
Shang died.
An of Han
Shang's young cousin Emperor An of Han became emperor, with Deng Sui continuing to act as regent.
An of Han died
An died.
Marquess of Beixiang became emperor
The Marquess of Beixiang became emperor of the Han dynasty.
Marquess of Beixiang died
The Marquess of Beixiang died.
An's son Emperor Shun of Han became emperor of the Han dynasty
An's son Emperor Shun of Han became emperor of the Han dynasty.
Zhang Heng invented a seismometer capable of indicating the direction of earthquakes
Zhang Heng invented a seismometer capable of indicating the direction of earthquakes.
The Cantong qi was published
The Cantong qi was published.
Chong of Han
Shun died. He was succeeded by his infant son Emperor Chong of Han, with empress dowager Liang Na and her brother Liang Ji acting as regents.
Chong of Han died
Chong of Han died.
Zhi of Han
Chong's young third cousin Emperor Zhi of Han became emperor of the Han dynasty, with Liang Na acting as regent.
Liang Ji poisoned Zhi
Liang Ji poisoned Zhi, killing him.
Huan of Han
Emperor Huan of Han became emperor of the Han dynasty.
Lokaksema was born
Lokaksema was born.
Sino-Roman relations
A Roman envoy arrived at the Han capital Luoyang.
Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions
Several ministers and some two hundred university students, who had opposed the influence of corrupt eunuchs at the royal court, were arrested.
Ling of Han
Emperor Ling of Han became emperor of the Han dynasty.
Huan of Han died
Huan of Han died.
Cai Wenji was born
Cai Wenji was born.
The earliest known reference to The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art appeared
The earliest known reference to The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art appeared.
Ding Huan invented the rotary fan
Ding Huan invented the rotary fan.
Yellow Turban Rebellion
The Taoist sect leader Zhang Jue called on his followers in the Han provinces to rebel against the government.
Liang Province rebellion
The Qiang people launched a rebellion against Han authority in the area of modern Wuwei.
Zhi Yao first translated Buddhist texts into Chinese
Zhi Yao first translated Buddhist texts into Chinese.
Ling of Han died
Ling of Han died.
Liu Bian became emperor of the Han dynasty
Ling's son Liu Bian became emperor of the Han dynasty.
Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu massacre
Forces loyal to the warlords Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu massacred some two thousand eunuchs in the Han capital Luoyang.
Dong Zhuo deposed Liu Bian as emperor and appointed his brother Emperor Xian of Han
The Han general Dong Zhuo deposed Liu Bian as emperor and appointed his brother Emperor Xian of Han in his stead.
Campaign against Dong Zhuo
A coalition led by Yuan Shao gathered at Hangu Pass in anticipation of an expedition against Dong.
Dong was assassinated by his foster son Lü Bu
Dong was assassinated by his foster son Lü Bu.
Sun Ce's conquests in Jiangdong
The warlord Sun Ce attacked and conquered territory administered by Lu Kang.
War between Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu almost take Cao Cao's life
War between Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu almost take Cao Cao's life. Cao Cao's oldest son perished in the battle, but Zhang Xiu later (199) surrendered to Cao Cao to face Yuan Shao together.
Battle of Xiapi
The allied forces of the warlords Cao Cao and Liu Bei defeated an army loyal to Lü Bu in Xuzhou.
Battle of Guandu
Forces loyal to Cao Cao dealt a bloody defeat to Yuan Shao near the confluence of the Bian and Yellow Rivers.
Gongsun Kang established the Daifang Commandery on the Korean Peninsula
The warlord Gongsun Kang established the Daifang Commandery on the Korean Peninsula.
Battle of Red Cliffs
Forces loyal to the warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan decisively repelled Cao Cao in an attempted invasion across the Yangtze River.
Battle of Tong Pass
Cao Cao defeated an alliance of anti-Han rebels in modern Tongguan County, securing his control over Guanzhong.
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province
Liu Zhang, the governor of Yi Province in modern Sichuan and Chongqing, surrendered Chengdu to Liu Bei.
Battle of Xiaoyao Ford
A plague outbreak forced Sun Quan to abandon the attempted conquest from Cao Cao of a fortress at Hefei.
Battle of Han River
Liu Bei ambushed and dealt a bloody defeat to Cao Cao's army in Hanzhong.
Battle of Fancheng
Cao Cao repelled an attack by Liu Bei's general Guan Yu in modern Fancheng District, at great cost to both sides.
Lü Meng's invasion of Jing Province
Liu Bei's generals Shi Ren and Mi Fang defected to Sun Quan, surrendering to his general Lü Meng the main defense posts of Jingzhou.
End of the Han dynasty
Cao Cao's son Cao Pi forced Xian to abdicate the throne and declared himself emperor of Cao Wei.
Liu Bei declared himself emperor of Shu Han
Liu Bei declared himself emperor of Shu Han.
First Emperor of the Qin dynasty
The Warring States period ended in 221 BCE after the state of Qin conquered the other six kingdoms, reunited China, and established the dominant order of autocracy. King Zheng of Qin proclaimed himself the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty.
Construction of imperial highways begins
Construction of imperial highways begins.
Small Seal Script
Chancellor Li Si standardized the Chinese writing system with the creation of the "Small Seal Script".
The Lingqu Canal was built
The Lingqu Canal was built.
Burning of books and burying of scholars
Burning of books and burying of scholars: All copies of the Classic of Poetry, the Book of Documents, and works of the Hundred Schools of Thought were ordered burned.
Qin Er Shi
Qin Shi Huang's son Qin Er Shi succeeded him as emperor of China.
Qin Shi Huang was buried
Qin Shi Huang was buried with the Terracotta Army in the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
Qin Shi Huang died
Qin Shi Huang died from mercury pills made by his alchemists and court physicians; ironically these pills were meant to make Qin Shi Huang immortal.
Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were assassinated
Chen Sheng and Wu Guang were assassinated by their own men.
Dazexiang Uprising
Military officers Chen Sheng and Wu Guang began a rebellion for fear of being executed after failing to arrive at their posts.
Modu Chanyu established the Xiongnu Empire
The Xiongnu chanyu Modu Chanyu established the Xiongnu Empire on the Eurasian Steppe.
Li was executed on charges of treason
Li was executed on charges of treason. Zhao Gao, who had framed him, was appointed chancellor in his stead.
Ziying surrendered to Gaozu
Ziying surrendered to Gaozu.
Ziying killed Zhao
Ziying killed Zhao.
Emperor Gaozu of Han entered the Qin capital Xianyang
The Chu general Emperor Gaozu of Han entered the Qin capital Xianyang.
Zhao Gao had Qin Er Shi killed
Zhao Gao had Qin Er Shi killed. Qin Er Shi's nephew Ziying succeeded him.
Battle of Julu
Chu forces led by the warlord Xiang Yu defeated a numerically superior Qin force, killing a large fraction of the Qin army.
Xiang led an army into Xianyang
Xiang led an army into Xianyang, burned the Epang Palace, and killed Ziying and the royal family.
Feast at Swan Goose Gate
Gaozu fled a banquet after it became clear that Xiang had invited him there to be killed. Xiang Yu or Hegemon-King of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention period (206–202 BC) of China. A noble of the Chu state, Xiang Yu rebelled against the Qin dynasty and became a prominent warlord. He was granted the title of "Duke of Lu" (魯公) by King Huai II of the restoring Chu state in 208 BC. The following year, he led the Chu forces to victory at the Battle of Julu against the Qin armies led by Zhang Han. After the fall of Qin, Xiang Yu was enthroned as the "Hegemon-King of Western Chu" (西楚霸王) and ruled a vast area covering modern-day central and eastern China, with Pengcheng as his capital. He engaged Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty, in a long struggle for power, known as the Chu–Han Contention, which concluded with his eventual defeat at the Battle of Gaixia and his suicide. Xiang Yu is depicted in the Wu Shuang Pu (無雙譜, Table of Peerless Heroes) by Jin Guliang.
Battle of Jingxing
Han forces dealt a decisive defeat to a numerically superior Zhao army at Jingxing Pass.
Battle of Gaixia
Gaozu's Han forces destroyed the Western Chu army led by Xiang in modern Suzhou.
Zhao Tuo established the state of Nanyue
The Qin general Zhao Tuo established the state of Nanyue.
Gaozu took the title emperor
Gaozu took the title emperor and established his capital in Luoyang.
Battle of Baideng
The Xiongnu encircled and besieged a superior Han force.
Gaozu died
Gaozu died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Hui of Han.
Xiao He died
The Han chancellor Xiao He died.
Chang'an became the eastern terminus of the Silk Road to Europe
Chang'an became the eastern terminus of the Silk Road to Europe.
Hui died
Hui died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Qianshao of Han.
Zhang Liang died
Zhang Liang died.
Qianshao was deposed and killed
Qianshao was deposed and killed on the orders of the empress dowager Empress Lü Zhi. He was succeeded by his brother Emperor Houshao of Han.
Lü Clan Disturbance
Houshao was deposed by imperial officials led by Chen Ping and Zhou Bo. He was succeeded by his uncle, Gaozu's son Emperor Wen of Han.
Wen died
Wen died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Jing of Han.
Jing died
Jing died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Wu of Han.
Wu adopted Confucianism
Wu adopted Confucianism.
Han campaigns against Minyue
The Han dynasty invaded Minyue after a plea for assistance from its vassal state Nanyue.
Battle of Mayi
A Han deception failed to lure the Xiongnu into an ambush at Mayi.
Zhang Qian returned to the Han court to report on his travels
Zhang Qian returned to the Han court to report on his travels to the kingdoms of Dayuan, Kangju, the Greco-Bactrian, and Indo-Greek Kingdoms, Parthia and Mesopotamia.
Battle of Mobei
A Han expedition into the Orkhon Valley began which would deal a decisive and bloody defeat to the Xiongnu.
Han dynasty conquered and annexed Nanyue
The Han dynasty conquered and annexed Nanyue.
Dongyue was invaded and annexed by the Han
The Minyue rump state of Dongyue was invaded and annexed by the Han dynasty.
Han dynasty invaded and annexed the Dian Kingdom
The Han dynasty invaded and annexed the Dian Kingdom.
Battle of Loulan
Han forces attacked the Loulan Kingdom at Lop Nur.
Han forces laid siege to Kokand
Han forces laid siege to Kokand.
Sima Qian completed the Records of the Grand Historian
Sima Qian completed the Records of the Grand Historian.
Wu died
Wu died. He was succeeded by his young son Emperor Zhao of Han, with Huo Guang, Jin Midi, and Shangguang Jie acting as regents.
Emperor Xuan of Han
Huo appointed Wu's great-grandson, then a commoner, Emperor Xuan of Han.
Prince of Changyi was deposed
The Prince of Changyi was deposed.
Prince of Changyi was appointed emperor of Han by Huo Guang
The Prince of Changyi was appointed emperor of Han by Huo Guang.
Emperor Zhao of Han died
Zhao "Emperor Zhao of Han" died.
Battle of Jushi
Han forces defeated the people of the Gushi culture, at that time subject to the Xiongnu, at Jiaohe in modern Turpan.
Protectorate of the Western Regions was established
The Protectorate of the Western Regions was established.
Consort Ban was born
Consort Ban was born.
Yuan of Han
Xuan's son Emperor Yuan of Han became emperor of the Han dynasty.
Xuan died
Xuan "Emperor Xuan of Han" died.
Jing Fang died
Jing Fang died.
Battle of Zhizhi
A Han force breached and destroyed a fortress occupied by the Xiongnu chanyu Zhizhi Chanyu at Taraz, killing him.
Cheng of Han
Yuan died. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Cheng of Han.
Liu Xiang compiled the Biographies of Exemplary Women
Liu Xiang compiled the Biographies of Exemplary Women.
Ai of Han
Cheng died. He was succeeded by his nephew Emperor Ai of Han.
Ping of Han
Ai's young cousin Emperor Ping of Han was appointed emperor of the Han dynasty, with Wang Mang acting as regent.
Ai died
Ai "Emperor Ai of Han" died.