Dynasties

Han dynasty

A long-lived imperial dynasty, conventionally divided into Western and Eastern Han with an intervening interruption.

Conventional date range

206 BCE–220 CE

Core region

China

Understanding this entry

A dynasty is a ruling family, not a synonym for a fixed culture or an unchanging territory. Timelines often compress succession disputes, interruptions and changes in effective authority. Treat the date range as an introductory convention.

Further reading and reference: Topic reference ↗. Values and educational summaries are not a substitute for specialised advice.