After centuries of political division, the adventurer Liu Bang (Han Gaozu) succeeded in founding a new empire, following the tradition of the former kings of Zhou and the Warring States and walking in the footsteps of the First Emperor of Qin. But unlike the short-lived Qin empire, the Han Dynasty should last for four centuries.

Fundamental changes took place during this time and helped to build up what we now call the Chinese culture. It was not only the governmental system with its huge state bureaucracy that took more concrete shape; the second important event was the rise of Confucianism as the main state doctrine, while popular belief in Daoist deities and practices by both aristocracy and the peasants were very widespread. And for the first time in history, China had contact with the West through the Silk Road.

The Western Han period can be divided into the time of consolidation (Emperors Han Gaozu, Wendi, Zhaodi, Jingdi), the zenith with the expansion into Inner Asia (Emperor Han Wudi) and the centralization of power, and the time of replacement of the imperial power by the mighty consort clan of the Wang (emperors Yuandi, Chengdi).

Wang Mang tried to replace the Han Dynasty but his reforms to shape an ideal Confucian government failed, and the Han Dynasty was restored as Eastern Han.