Han Dynasty

The Han Dynasty, lasting from 206 BCE to 220 CE, is considered one of the golden ages of Ancient China. It followed the Qin Dynasty and expanded the empire significantly, enhancing trade through the Silk Road. The Han government established a centralized bureaucracy and promoted Confucianism as the state philosophy, influencing Chinese culture profoundly. Innovations in technology, such as papermaking and the seismograph, flourished during this period. The dynasty's fall led to a fragmented era, but its legacy continued to shape Chinese identity for centuries. The Han is often seen as a defining period in Chinese history.