Ancient World
Ban Chao and the Western Regions: Han Power in Central Asia
Ban Chao brought the oasis states of the Tarim Basin under Han overlordship and served as Protector General of the Western Regions from AD 91 to 102.
Region
Asia
Ancient World
Invention of Paper in China: Cai Lun and the Han Papermakers
Cai Lun's improved papermaking process made paper a practical writing material in China, from where the craft spread across Asia, the Islamic world and Europe.
Ancient World
Pliny's Letter to Trajan on Christians (c. AD 112) Explained
Trajan ruled that Christians should not be hunted out or accused anonymously, but those charged and refusing to recant were to be punished.
Ancient World
Kanishka and the Kushan Empire: Crossroads of the Silk Road
Kanishka brought the Kushan Empire to its height, linking Central Asia, India and the Silk Road trade and patronising Buddhism.
Ancient World
Zhang Heng's Seismoscope (132): Detecting Earthquakes in China
Zhang Heng presented the first known instrument for detecting earthquakes, which reportedly registered a distant quake in Longxi.
Ancient World
Roman Embassy to Han China (166): Daqin Envoys Reach the Court
The first recorded arrival in China of people claiming to represent the Roman Empire, probably merchants rather than official envoys.
Ancient World
Yellow Turban Rebellion (184): The Uprising That Doomed the Han
The main revolt was crushed within a year, but the campaigns empowered regional commanders and set China on the path to the warlord era and the Three Kingdoms.
Ancient World
Dong Zhuo Seizes Luoyang (189): The Han Court Falls to a Warlord
Dong Zhuo controlled the Han emperor until his murder in 192; his coup broke central authority and opened the era of warlords that led to the Three Kingdoms.
Ancient World
Battle of Guandu (200): Cao Cao Defeats Yuan Shao
Decisive victory for Cao Cao, who went on to take Yuan Shao's lands and control all of northern China by 207.
Ancient World
Battle of Red Cliffs (208): Cao Cao's Defeat on the Yangtze
Decisive allied victory; Cao Cao's attempt to conquer the south failed, ensuring China would split into rival states.
Ancient World
Three Kingdoms Period (220-280): Wei, Shu and Wu Divide China
Wei conquered Shu in 263, the Sima family replaced Wei with the Jin dynasty in 266, and Jin conquered Wu in 280, reuniting China.
Ancient World
Battle of Yiling (222): Lu Xun's Fire Attack Defeats Liu Bei
Decisive Wu victory; Shu lost most of its army, Liu Bei died the next year, and Wu kept Jing province.