207 BC207 BC : China’s second emperor Huhai, son of Shihuangdi, is deposed after a reign of only four years, and China's Han dynasty is formed by Liu Bang (Liu Pang), a populist monarch.

Liu Bang

150 BC150 BC: Dong Zhongshu, influential philosopher and statesman of Han Dynasty, convinces the emperor to make Confucianism state ideology; and to found (what maybe) the first school to educate future rulers.

Dong Zhongshu

Zhang Qian

140-87 BC140-87 BC: Chinese emperor, Wu Di expands the boundaries of north China to incorporate southern Manchuria, Korea and Mongolia; the south, he extends rule as far as northern Vietnam.

Wu Di

138 BC - 126 BC138 BC - 126 BC Chinese emperor, Wu Di dispatches Zhang Qian as a diplomat to seek allies in western lands; Zhang Qian doesn’t find allies and learns that Chinese goods are traveling great distances overland. From trader to trader, silk and other Chinese products are exchanged as far as Bactria (modern-day Afghanistan) and eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. His report promotes more direct trade between China and Central Asia.

100 BC, a network of overland trade routes were developed to carry goods between Asia and Europe; came to be known as the Silk Road, for the precious Chinese cloth (silk) that was traded abundantly on it.

Silk RouteSilk Route

140 BC - 87 BC: Confucianism Becomes the Dominant Ideology of the Chinese government; through the influence of Thung Chung-shu and Emperor Wu Di, a system of education is established based on Confucian doctrines. Han rulers stressed aspects of Confucianism that favored obedience to the ruler, resulting in “imperial Confucianism." The works of Confucius and his disciples later form the basis of the examinations required of all candidates for civil service.

135 BC: Wi Di founds Confucian schools

111 BC: Chinese armies conquer Vietnam; inaugurating more than 1,000 years of China rule (in Vietnam).Confucian SchoolConfucian School

95 BC: History of China Written; Ssu-ma Ch’ien completes his comprehensive history of China, covering the earliest times to the present regime. His work–a half million written Chinese characters—is read in whole or in part by scholars and students throughout East Asia. It is admired for its excellent prose style, for its dramatic narrative, and for its accuracy. Ssu-ma

Ch’ien

81 BC :China's Monopoly System Debated; a group of Chinese scholars and officials debate the use of monopolies established under former Emperor Wu Ti (140-87 BC). Many see the profitable monopolies on iron and salt as heavily burdensome to the people due to the resultant high prices. The emperor's expansionist policies nearly ruin the economy and topple his regime.

55 BC: Granary System Developed; during the Han dynasty a system of granaries is created in China; designed to stabilize grain prices. Granaries buy grain in years of abundant crops and sell it during poor years so, the granaries have a price regulation function, and they may be used to donate food to hungry commoners. The same system is used centuries later in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).Granary

AD 47 :China recaptures the territory and returns it to Chinese rule.

Trung Sisters

100 AD: Buddhism spreads to China

AD 39 – 43: Trung Sisters Drive China Out of Vietnam; Trung Trac loses her husband, a feudal lord, to occupying Chinese rulers after he complains about China’s plans to levy new taxes on local Vietnamese aristocrats. In revenge, Trung Trac and her sister, Trung Nhi, raise an army and drive out the Chinese.

AD 105: Paper Made in China; According to tradition, Ts'ai Lun, a eunuch attached to the court of the Chinese emperor Ho Ti, makes the first paper. He probably uses mulberry bark, making the paper on a mold of bamboo strips.

AD 132: Earliest Seismoscope; Chinese philosopher Chang Heng invents a Seismoscope. It has a circle of dragons holding balls in their mouths, surrounded by frogs at the base. A specific ball dropping into the mouth of a frog indicates the earthquake’s direction.Seismoscope

AD 175: Confucian Texts Compiled; Cai Yong, a noted calligrapher, is given the task of developing a new and accurate edition of the works attributed to Chinese philosopher Confucius. A team of scholars is gathered for the monumental task, and the works are carved into stone as a permanent record.

AD 190: Capital of Han Dynasty Sacked; Han dynasty is being torn apart by power struggles at court and the growing independence of ruling officials in the provinces. The atmosphere of rebellion also spreads among merchants and peasants who resent the high taxes and their lowly status. Meanwhile, nomads in northern China challenge the weakened Han armies. Warlords raid the Han capital at Luoyang in a prelude to the revolt that destroys the Han dynasty by AD 220.

AD 210: Chinese Invent Wheelbarrow: People in China invent the wheelbarrow. It is used to haul dirt, rocks, and food supplies. Easy to push, it can be handled by one person.

AD 220 - 265 : Three Kingdoms Era in China; The Han empire collapses, beginning a period when warlords divide China, ruling their

own kingdoms. The Wei gain control of the north, the Wu take the south, and the Shu seize the west (present-day Sichuan).

Research Sources:

• Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

• Atlas of World History. Michigan: HarperCollins, 2003

Picture Sources:

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