Emperor Wu Expands China: Han Dynasty Rises Through Confucian Rule
Emperor Wu of Han reigned from 141 to 87 BC, the longest rule in Chinese imperial history, during which he transformed China from a cautious confederation into an expansionist empire. He made Confucianism the state ideology, establishing an examination system for government officials that lasted in various forms for two millennia. His military campaigns pushed Chinese borders to their greatest extent: armies reached the Fergana Valley in Central Asia, conquered northern Vietnam, colonized parts of Korea, and drove the nomadic Xiongnu confederation far beyond the Great Wall. His most consequential decision was sending the diplomat Zhang Qian westward in 138 BC, a mission that opened the Silk Road connecting China to Rome. Zhang brought back horses, grapes, alfalfa, and knowledge of civilizations China had never contacted. The trade routes he established carried not just goods but technologies, religions, and diseases between East and West for the next 1,500 years.
March 9, 141 BC
Key Figures & Places
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