Han

State · 404–203 BCE · at its largest around 203 BCE

Smallest of the three states carved from Jin, centred in present-day Henan with its capital at Xinzheng, and the first of the six states conquered by Qin.

On its lands while it lasted

Zhou dynasty (1,046–256 BCE): The longest-lasting Chinese dynasty, whose rulers claimed the Mandate of Heaven; real power declined after the move east in 771 BCE.
Warring States period (475–221 BCE): Era of intense warfare among seven major states, marked by bureaucratic reform, iron technology and flourishing philosophy, ended by Qin unification.
Mozi (c. 470 BCE – 391 BCE): Philosopher who founded Mohism, advocating impartial care, opposition to offensive war and meritocratic government.
Tao Te Ching (c. 400 BCE): Foundational text of Taoism traditionally attributed to Laozi; most scholars date its compilation to the 4th century BCE.
Shang Yang (c. 390 BCE – 338 BCE): Legalist statesman whose reforms of law, land and army in the state of Qin laid the groundwork for its later conquest of China.
Mencius (c. 372 BCE – 289 BCE): Confucian philosopher who argued that human nature is inherently good; revered as the "Second Sage" after Confucius.
Chengdu (311 BCE): Capital of Shu Han (224–262), Cheng Han (306–346), Former Shu (911–925), and 1 more.
Qin Shi Huang (259 BCE – 210 BCE): King of Qin who conquered the other Warring States and in 221 BCE became the first emperor of a unified China, standardising script, coinage and measures.
Dujiangyan (c. 256 BCE): Irrigation system on the Min River built by the Qin governor Li Bing; it still waters the Chengdu Plain today.
Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang) (c. 256 BCE – 195 BCE): Commoner-born rebel leader who founded the Han dynasty and ruled as its first emperor from 202 BCE.
Qin's wars of unification (230–221 BCE): Campaigns in which Qin conquered Han, Zhao, Wei, Chu, Yan and Qi in turn.
Qin unifies China (221 BCE): With the fall of Qi, the state of Qin completed the conquest of the Warring States and founded the first unified Chinese empire.
Qin standard script (221 BCE): After uniting China, the Qin made its small seal script the standard writing of the whole empire, a step toward one written Chinese used across many spoken languages.
Great Wall of China (c. 214 BCE): Qin linked earlier northern walls into a frontier defence against the Xiongnu; later dynasties, especially the Ming, rebuilt and extended the walls.
Terracotta Army (c. 210 BCE): Thousands of life-size clay soldiers and horses buried near the tomb of Qin Shi Huang; discovered by farmers in 1974.