praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: The Xiongnu, a nomadic steppe confederation, defeated the Han in 200 BC and forced the Han to submit as a de facto 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. These campaigns expanded Han sovereignty into the Tarim Basin of Central Asia, divided the Xiongnu into two separate confederations, and helped establish the vast trade network known as the Silk Road, which reached as far as the Mediterranean world. The territories north of Han's borders were quickly overrun by the nomadic Xianbei confederation. Emperor Wu also launched successful military expeditions in the south, annexing Nanyue in 111 BC and Dian in 109 BC, and in the Korean Peninsula where the Xuantu and Lelang Commanderies were established in 108 BC.

question: Which confederation defeated the Han in 200 BC? 

answer: The Xiongnu

question: What type of campaign helped establish the Silk Road? 

answer: military

question: In what year was Nanyue annexed? 

answer: 111 BC

question: Which confederation conquered the territories north of the Han's border? 

answer: Xianbei

question: In what year did Emperor Wu of Han's reign end? 

answer: 87 BC
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: After 92 AD, the palace eunuchs increasingly involved themselves in court politics, engaging in violent power struggles between the various consort clans of the empresses and empress dowagers, causing the Han's ultimate downfall. Imperial authority was also seriously challenged by large Daoist religious societies which instigated the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the Five Pecks of Rice Rebellion. Following the death of Emperor Ling (r. 168–189 AD), the palace eunuchs suffered wholesale massacre by military officers, allowing members of the aristocracy and military governors to become warlords and divide the empire. When Cao Pi, King of Wei, usurped the throne from Emperor Xian, the Han dynasty ceased to exist.

question: Which religious societies instigated the Yellow Turban Rebellion? 

answer: Daoist

question: Who killed the palace eunichs after the death of Emperor Ling? 

answer: military officers

question: Who was the last Emperor of the Han dynasty? 

answer: Xian

question: Which King took the seat of power from Emperor Xian? 

answer: Cao Pi

question: In what year did Emperor Ling die? 

answer: 189 AD
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: China's first imperial dynasty was the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC). The Qin unified the Chinese Warring States by conquest, but their empire became unstable after the death of the first emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Within four years, the dynasty's authority had collapsed in the face of rebellion. Two former rebel leaders, Xiang Yu (d. 202 BC) of Chu and Liu Bang (d. 195 BC) of Han, engaged in a war to decide who would become hegemon of China, which had fissured into 18 kingdoms, each claiming allegiance to either Xiang Yu or Liu Bang. Although Xiang Yu proved to be a capable commander, Liu Bang defeated him at Battle of Gaixia (202 BC), in modern-day Anhui. Liu Bang assumed the title "emperor" (huangdi) at the urging of his followers and is known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu (r. 202–195 BC). Chang'an was chosen as the new capital of the reunified empire under Han.

question: With what action did the Qin bring together the Chinese Warring States? 

answer: conquest

question: Which commander did Liu Bang defeat in the Battle of Gaixia? 

answer: Xiang Yu

question: Who was the first emperor during the Qin dynasty? 

answer: Qin Shi Huangdi

question: What ultimately caused the Qin dynasty's authority to be dissolved? 

answer: rebellion

question: Who urged Liu Bang to become emperor? 

answer: his followers
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: At the beginning of the Western Han dynasty, thirteen centrally controlled commanderies—including the capital region—existed in the western third of the empire, while the eastern two-thirds were divided into ten semi-autonomous kingdoms. To placate his prominent commanders from the war with Chu, Emperor Gaozu enfeoffed some of them as kings. By 157 BC, the Han court had replaced all of these kings with royal Liu family members, since the loyalty of non-relatives to the throne was questioned. After several insurrections by Han kings—the largest being the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC—the imperial court enacted a series of reforms beginning in 145 BC limiting the size and power of these kingdoms and dividing their former territories into new centrally controlled commanderies. Kings were no longer able to appoint their own staff; this duty was assumed by the imperial court. Kings became nominal heads of their fiefs and collected a portion of tax revenues as their personal incomes. The kingdoms were never entirely abolished and existed throughout the remainder of Western and Eastern Han.

question: How many commanderies were in the western third of the empire? 

answer: thirteen

question: Who could appoint staff to the kings? 

answer: imperial court

question: When was the Rebellion of the Seven States? 

answer: 154 BC

question: From what source did kings derive their personal income from? 

answer: tax revenues

question: The Han court replaced several kings with members of what royal family? 

answer: Liu
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: To the north of China proper, the nomadic Xiongnu chieftain Modu Chanyu (r. 209–174 BC) conquered various tribes inhabiting the eastern portion of the Eurasian Steppe. By the end of his reign, he controlled Manchuria, Mongolia, and the Tarim Basin, subjugating over twenty states east of Samarkand. Emperor Gaozu was troubled about the abundant Han-manufactured iron weapons traded to the Xiongnu along the northern borders, and he established a trade embargo against the group. Although the embargo was in place, the Xiongnu found traders willing to supply their needs. Chinese forces also mounted surprise attacks against Xiongnu who traded at the border markets. In retaliation, the Xiongnu invaded what is now Shanxi province, where they defeated the Han forces at Baideng in 200 BC. After negotiations, the heqin agreement in 198 BC nominally held the leaders of the Xiongnu and the Han as equal partners in a royal marriage alliance, but the Han were forced to send large amounts of tribute items such as silk clothes, food, and wine to the Xiongnu.

question: Who was the chieftain of the Xiongnu? 

answer: Modu Chanyu

question: What group had a trade embargo created against them? 

answer: the Xiongnu

question: In what year were Han forces defeated in Baideng? 

answer: 200 BC

question: What agreement established equality between the Xiongnu and the Han? 

answer: heqin

question: What type of clothing were sent as a tribute to the Xiongnu? 

answer: silk clothes
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: Despite the tribute and a negotiation between Laoshang Chanyu (r. 174–160 BC) and Emperor Wen (r. 180–157 BC) to reopen border markets, many of the Chanyu's Xiongnu subordinates chose not to obey the treaty and periodically raided Han territories south of the Great Wall for additional goods. In a court conference assembled by Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BC) in 135 BC, the majority consensus of the ministers was to retain the heqin agreement. Emperor Wu accepted this, despite continuing Xiongnu raids. However, a court conference the following year convinced the majority that a limited engagement at Mayi involving the assassination of the Chanyu would throw the Xiongnu realm into chaos and benefit the Han. When this plot failed in 133 BC, Emperor Wu launched a series of massive military invasions into Xiongnu territory. Chinese armies captured one stronghold after another and established agricultural colonies to strengthen their hold. The assault culminated in 119 BC at the Battle of Mobei, where the Han commanders Huo Qubing (d. 117 BC) and Wei Qing (d. 106 BC) forced the Xiongnu court to flee north of the Gobi Desert.

question: The heqin agreement was reaffirmed by a court conference in what year? 

answer: 135 BC

question: In what year did Emperor Wu begin a series of attacks in Xiongnu territories? 

answer: 133 BC

question: What type of colony did Chinese armies use to help firm their hold on the strongholds that they had taken over? 

answer: agricultural

question: In what year did the Battle of Mobei take place? 

answer: 119 BC

question: Which Han commander died in the year 106 BC? 

answer: Wei Qing
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: In 121 BC, Han forces expelled the Xiongnu from a vast territory spanning the Hexi Corridor to Lop Nur. They repelled a joint Xiongnu-Qiang invasion of this northwestern territory in 111 BC. In that year, the Han court established four new frontier commanderies in this region: Jiuquan, Zhangyi, Dunhuang, and Wuwei. The majority of people on the frontier were soldiers. On occasion, the court forcibly moved peasant farmers to new frontier settlements, along with government-owned slaves and convicts who performed hard labor. The court also encouraged commoners, such as farmers, merchants, landowners, and hired laborers, to voluntarily migrate to the frontier.

question: Who made up a majority of the people on the frontier? 

answer: soldiers

question: Who forced peasant farmers to move to new settlements? 

answer: the court

question: In what year did Han forces stop a joint Xiongnu-Qiang invasion? 

answer: 111 BC

question: Where were landowners encouraged to migrate willingly to? 

answer: the frontier

question: How many commanderies in the new frontier were created by the Han court in the year 111 BC? 

answer: four
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: Even before Han's expansion into Central Asia, diplomat Zhang Qian's travels from 139 to 125 BC had established Chinese contacts with many surrounding civilizations. Zhang encountered Dayuan (Fergana), Kangju (Sogdiana), and Daxia (Bactria, formerly the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom); he also gathered information on Shendu (Indus River valley of North India) and Anxi (the Parthian Empire). All of these countries eventually received Han embassies. These connections marked the beginning of the Silk Road trade network that extended to the Roman Empire, bringing Han items like silk to Rome and Roman goods such as glasswares to China.

question: What type of Roman item was traded on the Silk Road network? 

answer: glasswares

question: Which diplomat helped gather information on the country of Anxi? 

answer: Zhang Qian

question: When did Zhang Qian end his travels? 

answer: 125 BC

question: Which network was used to exchange goods with Rome? 

answer: Silk Road

question: What empire had established an embassy in Anxi? 

answer: Han
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: From roughly 115 to 60 BC, Han forces fought the Xiongnu over control of the oasis city-states in the Tarim Basin. Han was eventually victorious and established the Protectorate of the Western Regions in 60 BC, which dealt with the region's defense and foreign affairs. The Han also expanded southward. The naval conquest of Nanyue in 111 BC expanded the Han realm into what are now modern Guangdong, Guangxi, and northern Vietnam. Yunnan was brought into the Han realm with the conquest of the Dian Kingdom in 109 BC, followed by parts of the Korean Peninsula with the colonial establishments of Xuantu Commandery and Lelang Commandery in 108 BC. In China's first known nationwide census taken in 2 AD, the population was registered as having 57,671,400 individuals in 12,366,470 households.

question: Which group did Han forces fight in the Tarm Basin? 

answer: the Xiongnu

question: When was the first national census taken in China? 

answer: 2 AD

question: What was the population of China in 2 AD? 

answer: 57,671,400

question: What year was the Protectorate of Western Regions created in? 

answer: 60 BC

question: Which kingdom did the Han conquer in 109 BC? 

answer: Dian
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: To pay for his military campaigns and colonial expansion, Emperor Wu nationalized several private industries. He created central government monopolies administered largely by former merchants. These monopolies included salt, iron, and liquor production, as well as bronze-coin currency. The liquor monopoly lasted only from 98 to 81 BC, and the salt and iron monopolies were eventually abolished in early Eastern Han. The issuing of coinage remained a central government monopoly throughout the rest of the Han dynasty. The government monopolies were eventually repealed when a political faction known as the Reformists gained greater influence in the court. The Reformists opposed the Modernist faction that had dominated court politics in Emperor Wu's reign and during the subsequent regency of Huo Guang (d. 68 BC). The Modernists argued for an aggressive and expansionary foreign policy supported by revenues from heavy government intervention in the private economy. The Reformists, however, overturned these policies, favoring a cautious, non-expansionary approach to foreign policy, frugal budget reform, and lower tax-rates imposed on private entrepreneurs.

question: Who made up the bulk of the administrators of the new government monopolies? 

answer: former merchants

question: When was the liquor monopoly abolished? 

answer: 81 BC

question: Which faction did the Reformists oppose? 

answer: Modernist

question: Which political faction favored budgetary reform? 

answer: The Reformists

question: In what year did Huo Guang die? 

answer: 68 BC
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: Wang Mang initiated a series of major reforms that were ultimately unsuccessful. These reforms included outlawing slavery, nationalizing land to equally distribute between households, and introducing new currencies, a change which debased the value of coinage. Although these reforms provoked considerable opposition, Wang's regime met its ultimate downfall with the massive floods of c. 3 AD and 11 AD. Gradual silt buildup in the Yellow River had raised its water level and overwhelmed the flood control works. The Yellow River split into two new branches: one emptying to the north and the other to the south of the Shandong Peninsula, though Han engineers managed to dam the southern branch by 70 AD.

question: Who tried to outlaw slavery? 

answer: Wang Mang

question: What caused the water level in the Yellow River to increase? 

answer: Gradual silt buildup

question: Who created a dam in the southern branch of The Yellow River? 

answer: Han engineers

question: What emptied out to the south of the Shandong Peninsula? 

answer: The Yellow River

question: What caused the end of Wang Mang's regime? 

answer: massive floods
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: The period between the foundation of the Han dynasty and Wang Mang's reign is known as the Western Han dynasty (simplified Chinese: 西汉; traditional Chinese: 西漢; pinyin: Xī Hàn) or Former Han dynasty (simplified Chinese: 前汉; traditional Chinese: 前漢; pinyin: Qiánhàn) (206 BC – 9 AD). During this period the capital was at Chang'an (modern Xi'an). From the reign of Guangwu the capital was moved eastward to Luoyang. The era from his reign until the fall of Han is known as the Eastern Han dynasty (simplified Chinese: 东汉; traditional Chinese: 東漢; pinyin: Dōng Hàn) or the Later Han dynasty (simplified Chinese: 后汉; traditional Chinese: 後漢; pinyin: Hòu Hàn) (25–220 AD).

question: Where did the capital move to after the reign of Guangwu? 

answer: Luoyang

question: What era does the reign of Guangwu fall under? 

answer: Eastern Han dynasty

question: What can the Eastern Han dynasty also be called? 

answer: Later Han dynasty

question: Where was the capital located during the Western Han dynasty? 

answer: Chang'an

question: What can the Western Han dynasty also be called? 

answer: Former Han dynasty
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: The Eastern Han, also known as the Later Han, formally began on 5 August 25, when Liu Xiu became Emperor Guangwu of Han. During the widespread rebellion against Wang Mang, the state of Goguryeo was free to raid Han's Korean commanderies; Han did not reaffirm its control over the region until AD 30. The Trưng Sisters of Vietnam rebelled against Han in AD 40. Their rebellion was crushed by Han general Ma Yuan (d. AD 49) in a campaign from AD 42–43. Wang Mang renewed hostilities against the Xiongnu, who were estranged from Han until their leader Bi (比), a rival claimant to the throne against his cousin Punu (蒲奴), submitted to Han as a tributary vassal in AD 50. This created two rival Xiongnu states: the Southern Xiongnu led by Bi, an ally of Han, and the Northern Xiongnu led by Punu, an enemy of Han.

question: On what date did the Eastern Han dynasty begin? 

answer: 5 August 25

question: Who started a rebellion against Han in the year AD 40? 

answer: The Trưng Sisters of Vietnam

question: Which state raided Han's Korean commanderies? 

answer: Goguryeo

question: In what year did Ma Yuan die? 

answer: AD 49

question: Who was the leader of the Xiongnu? 

answer: Bi
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: During the turbulent reign of Wang Mang, Han lost control over the Tarim Basin, which was conquered by the Northern Xiongnu in AD 63 and used as a base to invade Han's Hexi Corridor in Gansu. Dou Gu (d. 88 AD) defeated the Northern Xiongnu at the Battle of Yiwulu in AD 73, evicting them from Turpan and chasing them as far as Lake Barkol before establishing a garrison at Hami. After the new Protector General of the Western Regions Chen Mu (d. AD 75) was killed by allies of the Xiongnu in Karasahr and Kucha, the garrison at Hami was withdrawn. At the Battle of Ikh Bayan in AD 89, Dou Xian (d. AD 92) defeated the Northern Xiongnu chanyu who then retreated into the Altai Mountains. After the Northern Xiongnu fled into the Ili River valley in AD 91, the nomadic Xianbei occupied the area from the borders of the Buyeo Kingdom in Manchuria to the Ili River of the Wusun people. The Xianbei reached their apogee under Tanshihuai (檀石槐) (d. AD 180), who consistently defeated Chinese armies. However, Tanshihuai's confederation disintegrated after his death.

question: Which Basin did the Han lose authority of? 

answer: Tarim

question: When did Chen Mu die? 

answer: AD 75

question: Where did the Northern Xiongnu flee to in AD 91? 

answer: Ili River valley

question: Who was the Protector General of the Western Regions? 

answer: Chen Mu

question: Who conquered the Tarim Basin in AD 63? 

answer: the Northern Xiongnu
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: Ban Chao (d. AD 102) enlisted the aid of the Kushan Empire, occupying the area of modern India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, to subdue Kashgar and its ally Sogdiana. When a request by Kushan ruler Vima Kadphises (r. c. 90–c. 100 AD) for a marriage alliance with the Han was rejected in AD 90, he sent his forces to Wakhan (Afghanistan) to attack Ban Chao. The conflict ended with the Kushans withdrawing because of lack of supplies. In AD 91, the office of Protector General of the Western Regions was reinstated when it was bestowed on Ban Chao.

question: Which ruler requested a marriage alliance with the Han in AD 90? 

answer: Vima Kadphises

question: Who was the Protector General of the Western Regions in AD 91? 

answer: Ban Chao

question: Which empire sent armies to attack Ban Chao? 

answer: Kushan

question: Which empire was asked to help subdue Kashgar? 

answer: Kushan

question: Who was allied with Kashgar? 

answer: Sogdiana
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: In addition to tributary relations with the Kushans, the Han Empire received gifts from the Parthian Empire, from a king in modern Burma, from a ruler in Japan, and initiated an unsuccessful mission to Daqin (Rome) in AD 97 with Gan Ying as emissary. A Roman embassy of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (r. 161–180 AD) is recorded in the Hou Hanshu to have reached the court of Emperor Huan of Han (r. AD 146–168) in AD 166, yet Rafe de Crespigny asserts that this was most likely a group of Roman merchants. Other travelers to Eastern-Han China included Buddhist monks who translated works into Chinese, such as An Shigao of Parthia, and Lokaksema from Kushan-era Gandhara, India.

question: Who translated written works into Chinese? 

answer: Buddhist monks

question: Which member of the Han Empire was sent to Daqin in AD 97? 

answer: Gan Ying

question: When did Emperor Huan's reign begin? 

answer: AD 146

question: Who reached the court of Emperor Huan in AD 166? 

answer: A Roman embassy

question: Which empire sent the Han gifts? 

answer: Parthian
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: Emperor Zhang's (r. 75–88 AD) reign came to be viewed by later Eastern Han scholars as the high point of the dynastic house. Subsequent reigns were increasingly marked by eunuch intervention in court politics and their involvement in the violent power struggles of the imperial consort clans. With the aid of the eunuch Zheng Zhong (d. 107 AD), Emperor He (r. 88–105 AD) had Empress Dowager Dou (d. 97 AD) put under house arrest and her clan stripped of power. This was in revenge for Dou's purging of the clan of his natural mother—Consort Liang—and then concealing her identity from him. After Emperor He's death, his wife Empress Deng Sui (d. 121 AD) managed state affairs as the regent empress dowager during a turbulent financial crisis and widespread Qiang rebellion that lasted from 107 to 118 AD.

question: Who was prevented from leaving their house? 

answer: Empress Dowager Dou

question: Who managed the state after the death of Emperor He? 

answer: Empress Deng Sui

question: When did Emperor He's reign end? 

answer: 105 AD

question: Who concealed the identity of Emperor He's mother? 

answer: Empress Dowager Dou

question: When did the Qiang rebellion end? 

answer: 118 AD
Title: Han_dynasty
Context: When Empress Dowager Deng died, Emperor An (r. 106–125 AD) was convinced by the accusations of the eunuchs Li Run (李閏) and Jiang Jing (江京) that Deng and her family had planned to depose him. An dismissed Deng's clan members from office, exiled them and forced many to commit suicide. After An's death, his wife, Empress Dowager Yan (d. 126 AD) placed the child Marquess of Beixiang on the throne in an attempt to retain power within her family. However, palace eunuch Sun Cheng (d. 132 AD) masterminded a successful overthrow of her regime to enthrone Emperor Shun of Han (r. 125–144 AD). Yan was placed under house arrest, her relatives were either killed or exiled, and her eunuch allies were slaughtered. The regent Liang Ji (d. 159 AD), brother of Empress Liang Na (d. 150 AD), had the brother-in-law of Consort Deng Mengnü (later empress) (d. 165 AD) killed after Deng Mengnü resisted Liang Ji's attempts to control her. Afterward, Emperor Huan employed eunuchs to depose Liang Ji, who was then forced to commit suicide.

question: Who had forced a large number of Empress Dowager Deng's clan members to kill themselves? 

answer: Emperor An

question: Which person plotted to overthrew the regime of Empress Dowager Yan? 

answer: Sun Cheng

question: Who did Emperor Huan hire to depose Liang Ji? 

answer: eunuchs

question: Relatives of what family were exiled after Sun Cheng had overthrown the regime? 

answer: Yan

question: How did Liang Ji die? 

answer: forced to commit suicide