page_title: List of ancient great powers
section_title: Han Dynasty
hierarchical_section_title: List of ancient great powers / Ancient China / Han Dynasty
caption_attribution_description: English: Servant (Shinü Yong). Terra Cotta. Shaanxi. Western Han Period (206 BC – 9 AD). Cernuschi Museum, Paris, France. Français&#160;: Statuette de suivante, Env. IIe siècle. Epoque des Han de l’Ouest (206 av. J.-C. - 9 ap. J.-C.) Chine septentrionale, province du Shaanxi (&#160;?). Terre cuite. H&#160;: 45 cm L&#160;: 18 cm P&#160;: 9.5 cm. M.C. 9814. Page correspondante, Collections du musée Cernuschi. Musée Cernuschi, Paris, France. Référence&#160;: Gilles Béghin, "Le petit peuple des tombes", Paris Musées, 2010&#160;; p.32. ISBN&#160;978-2-7596-0135-6.
context_page_description: Recognized great powers came about first in Europe during the post-Napoleonic era. The formalization of the division between small powers and great powers came about with the signing of the Treaty of Chaumont in 1814. A great power is a nation or state that, through its great economic, political and military strength, is able to exert power and influence over not only its own region of the world, but beyond to others.
  The historical terms "Great Nation", a distinguished aggregate of people inhabiting a particular country or territory, and "Great Empire", a considerable group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, are colloquial conversations.
  3000 BC – 476 AD
context_section_description: The Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), lasting 400 years, is commonly considered within China to be one of the greatest periods in the history of China. At its height, the Han empire extended over a vast territory of 6 million km² and housed a population of approximately 55 million. During this time period, China became a military, economic, and cultural powerhouse. The empire extended its political and cultural influence over Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Central Asia before it finally collapsed under a combination of domestic and external pressures.
  
  The Han Empire was divided into areas directly controlled by the central government, known as commanderies, and a number of semi-autonomous kingdoms. These kingdoms gradually lost all vestiges of their independence, particularly following the Rebellion of the Seven States. The Xiongnu, a nomadic confederation which dominated the eastern Eurasian Steppe, defeated the Han army in battle in 200 BC. Following the defeat, a political marriage alliance was negotiated in which the Han became the de facto inferior partner. When, despite the treaty, the Xiongnu continued to raid 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. These campaigns expanded Han sovereignty into the Tarim Basin of Central Asia and helped establish the vast trade network known as the Silk Road, which reached as far as the Mediterranean world. Han forces managed to divide the Xiongnu into two competing nations, the Southern and Northern Xiongnu, and forced the Northern Xiongnu across the Ili River. Despite these victories, the territories north of Han's borders were quickly overrun by the nomadic Xianbei confederation. The Han Dynasty was arguably one of the strongest's empires in the world during the reign of Emperor Wu, though was established as the largest.
caption: Servant (Shinü Yong). Terra Cotta statue.
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