Han

The Han Dynasty (漢朝) was founded by the peasant rebel leader Liu Bang, posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu of Han (高祖), in 206 B.C. and lasted until 220 A.D. when Cao Pi declared himself Emperer of Wei. The Han Dynasty was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty (9 - 23 A.D.). This interregnum separates the Han into two periods: the Western Han (206 B.C. - 9 A.D.) and Eastern Han (25 - 220 A.D.). The Han is considered the golden age in Chinese history, because it spanned over four centuries.

When people started to lose their faith in the Han, because of harsh tax increases and a string of natural disasters, Zhang Jiao of the Way of Great Peace raised an attempt to overthrow the Han in 184 A.D. Many Historians see this as the beginning of the end of the Han Dynasty.