Han Dynasty Breakthroughs
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Important Breakthroughs from past pages....The Han dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms period (220–280 AD). Spanning over four centuries, the Han period is considered a golden age in Chinese history. To this day, China's majority calls themselves as the "Han people" and in Chinese script they are reffered as "Han characters".
The Han Empire was divided into areas directly controlled by the central government, known as commanderies, and a number ofsemi-autonomous kingdoms. These kingdoms gradually lost all of their independence, particularly durring the Rebellion of the Seven States. The Xiongnu, a nomadic steppe confederation, defeated the Han in 200 BCE and forced the Han to submit as a inferior partner, but continued their raids on the Han borders. Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BC) launched several military campaigns against them. The ultimate Han victory in these wars eventually forced the Xiongnu to accept vassal status as Han tributaries.
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