The Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) was a golden age in Chinese history. It established a strong central government, expanded borders, and promoted Confucianism as state ideology. The civil service exam system began under the Han, influencing bureaucracy for centuries. Technological innovations included paper, seismographs, and iron tools.
Trade along the Silk Road connected China with the West, spreading goods and ideas. The Han also made cultural and scientific advances in astronomy, medicine, and literature. Their governance model and cultural values influenced East Asian civilizations for millennia.