The Han dynasty is considered a golden age in Chinese history. Spanning the years 206 BCE to 220 CE, the dynasty oversaw periods of economic prosperity and an astonishing advance in technical achievements. Intellectual enquiry was another hallmark of Han culture, particularly in the areas of government, law, philosophy, history, and art. Indeed, this fertile and imaginative epoch helped shape China into the prosperous country it is today. But how did the Han dynasty evolve, and why was its end so brutal?
Click back through time and find out more about the Han dynasty's long reign and achievements.