Western Han

Western Han was an empire in North China (East Asia) that lasted from 202 BCE to 9 CE, about 210 years. Its people spoke Chinese languages (Sinitic languages).

Founded by the commoner Liu Bang. Emperor Wu made Confucianism the state ideology, fought the Xiongnu and pushed into Central Asia, Korea and Vietnam; the regent Wang Mang usurped the throne in 9 CE.

See Western Han on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

202 BCE to 9 CE

Duration

210 years

Type

Empire

Region

North China, East Asia

Language family

Chinese

Capital

Chang'an

Came from

• Qin dynasty 221 to 206 BCE

Became

• Xin dynasty 9 to 23 CE

Neighbours in East Asia

• Silla 57 BCE to 668 CE
• Goguryeo 37 BCE to 668 CE
• Baekje 18 BCE to 660 CE
• Gojoseon c. 700 to 108 BCE
• Nanyue 204 to 111 BCE
• Zhangzhung c. 500 BCE to 644 CE
• Buyeo c. 200 BCE to 494 CE
• Lelang Commandery 108 BCE to 313 CE
• Dian kingdom c. 400 to 109 BCE
• Minyue c. 334 to 110 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
• Teotihuacan c. 100 BCE to 550 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
• Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
• Roman Empire 27 BCE to 395 CE, Europe
• Xiongnu Empire c. 209 BCE to 93 CE, Central and North Asia
• Ptolemaic Kingdom 305 to 30 BCE, North and West Africa
• Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE, South Asia

Questions