Loulan (Shanshan)

Loulan (Shanshan) was a state in Tarim basin and Dzungaria (Central and North Asia) that lasted from c. 176 BCE to 445 CE, about 620 years. Its people spoke Other Indo-European languages (Armenian, Albanian, Thracian, Illyrian, Phrygian, Tocharian, Dacian).

A kingdom by the Lop Nur lake, renamed Shanshan by the Han in 77 BCE. Its documents were written in Gandhari Prakrit on wooden tablets, and the Northern Wei conquered it in 445 as the lake dried.

See Loulan (Shanshan) on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 176 BCE to 445 CE

Duration

620 years

Type

State

Region

Tarim basin and Dzungaria, Central and North Asia

Language family

Other Indo-European

Capital

Loulan, later Wuni

Events in Central and North Asia during its time

• 138 BCE Zhang Qian travels west

Neighbours in Central and North Asia

• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE
• Sogdiana c. 545 BCE to 722 CE
• Kingdom of Khotan c. 200 BCE to 1006 CE
• Kushan Empire c. 30 to 375 CE
• Rouran Khaganate 330 to 555 CE
• Xianbei state c. 93 to 234 CE
• Greco-Bactrian Kingdom c. 256 to 125 BCE
• Kingdom of Kucha c. 100 BCE to 840 CE
• Ancient Chorasmia c. 600 BCE to 305 CE
• Afrighid dynasty c. 305 to 995 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Tiwanaku c. 400 to 1000 CE, South America
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East

Questions