Qin, Han and the classical empires 221 BC–AD 220

Qin and Han unify China, the Maurya and Kushan empires rise and the Silk Road opens.

Map of Asia in 1 BC, during the Qin, Han and the classical empires — Border map for 1 BC. See the world in 1 BC.

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Border maps in this era

Timeline

Year	Event	Where
221 BC	Qin unifies China	Xi'an
202 BC	Battle of Gaixia: the Han dynasty is founded	Battle of Gaixia
138 BC	Zhang Qian's mission to the west opens the Silk Road	Xi'an
AD 208	Battle of Red Cliffs	Battle of Red Cliffs

Battles and sites

Battle of Gaixia · 202 BC
Battle of Red Cliffs · AD 208

← Axial Age and Warring States Division and the spread of Buddhism →

Notable people of the Qin, Han and the classical empires

Lived	Person
259 BC – 210 BC	Qin Shi Huang	First Emperor of China
256 BC – 195 BC	Liu Bang (Emperor Gaozu of Han)	Founder of the Han dynasty
c. 164 BC – 113 BC	Zhang Qian	Envoy and explorer
156 BC – 87 BC	Emperor Wu of Han	Han emperor
c. 145 BC – 86 BC	Sima Qian	Historian
AD 155 – AD 220	Cao Cao	Warlord and poet
AD 161 – AD 223	Liu Bei	Founder of Shu Han
AD 181 – AD 234	Zhuge Liang	Chancellor of Shu Han

Last updated 9 November 2026. Sources: border data from historical-basemaps, land and rivers from Natural Earth; texts written for Chronica Maps from standard reference works. How we make the maps.