Western Han dynasty

The Western Han dynasty was the earlier period of the Han dynasty in China, conventionally dated 206 BCE to 9 CE. Its capital was Chang’an, and its rulers consolidated imperial institutions after the Qin dynasty.

Han imperial examination system: A system for selecting officials through standardized civil-service examinations, developed in imperial China. Western Han rulers recruited officials through recommendation and learning, before the later examination system emerged.
Qin dynasty: The first imperial dynasty of China, which unified the warring states and ruled from 221 to 206 BCE. Han rulers inherited Qin’s territorial unification and many centralizing institutions.
Emperor Wen of Han: A Han emperor who ruled from 180 to 157 BCE and became known for restrained governance. His reign exemplified the low-tax, comparatively restrained policies of early Han rule.
Rebellion of the Seven States: A revolt by seven regional kingdoms against the Han court in 154 BCE. Its suppression sharply reduced the political autonomy of hereditary kings.
郡国制: The Han administrative arrangement combining centrally governed commanderies with semi-autonomous kingdoms. It balanced imperial control with hereditary kingship during the dynasty’s early consolidation.
Chu–Han Contention: The civil war between Liu Bang and Xiang Yu for control of China after the Qin collapse. Liu Bang’s victory established the political conditions for Han rule.
Emperor Jing of Han: A Han emperor who ruled from 157 to 141 BCE and curtailed the power of regional kings. His response to the Rebellion of the Seven States strengthened central authority.
Wang Mang: A Han court official who seized power in 9 CE and founded the Xin dynasty. His takeover ended Western Han and interrupted the Han imperial line.
Salt and iron monopoly: State control over the production and sale of salt and iron in Han China. Monopoly revenues financed the state and provoked debate over economic policy.
Liu Bang: The founder of the Han dynasty, who ruled as Emperor Gaozu from 202 to 195 BCE. His victory over Xiang Yu founded the dynasty and set its early political direction.

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