LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Han Dynasty: Eastern Han Dynasty
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Emperor Guangwu (å…‰æ¦å¸) reinstated the Han Dynasty with the support of land-holding and merchant families at Luoyang (洛陽), east of Xi'an. This new era would be termed the Eastern Han Dynasty (東漢). Han power declined again amidst land acquisitions, invasions, and feuding between consort clans and eunuchs. The Yellow Turban Rebellion (黃巾之亂) broke out in 184, ushering in an era of warlords. In the ensuing turmoil, three states tried to gain predominance in the Period of the Three Kingdoms (三國). This time period has been greatly romanticized in works such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義).
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The Han Dynasty of ancient China thrived for four centuries, bar one brief usurpation that lasted fourteen years. It is because of this brief overthrowing of the dynasty that it is split into two eras, the Former (Western) Han and the Later (Eastern) Han. It is the Oriental equivalent of the Roman Empire – through innovative, previously unused government practise the Han expanded the Chinese Empire far and wide, whilst ensuring the infrastructure of the realm flourished.
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In 105, During Eastern Han Dynasty, an official and inventor named Cai Lun invented the technique for making fine paper. The invention of paper is considered a revolution in communication and learning, dramatically lowering the cost of education.
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In less than 20 years under Emperor Kuang-wu Ti the Han again consolidated their rule under the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220 A.D.), whose new capital was Luoyang, farther east in Henan Province. The capital was built on the ancient principle of alignment with north-south axis and covered an area of approximately four square miles. This new Han capital was a marvel of the ancient world as it was the home oftwo enormous palace complexes (forbidden palace), each 130 acres and linked by a covered guarded pathway.
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The HAN DYNASTY (206 BCE - 220 CE) was a period of relative peace and flourishing trade. This lidded vase (hu) was thrown on a sophisticated, fast wheel of a gray earthenware and vigorously painted in swirling designs of polychrome slip. Its shape is clearly derived from Shang bronze prototypes. While bronze vessels were reserved for royalty, wealthy patrons commissioned ceramic copies for their burials. During the Han Dynasty, the silk trade route was opened via Turkestan to the Eastern Roman Empire, and by sea to India and Persia. This 'silk road' stretched for over 5,000 miles from the Han capital at Luóyang on the Yellow River to Rome.
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The Han ruling line was briefly interrupted by the usurpation of a famous reformer, Wang Mang, whose interlude on the throne from A.D. 9 to 23 in known as the Hsin dynasty. Historians therefore subdivide the Han period into two parts, Former (or Western) Han (capital at Ch'ang-an, present day Xi'an) and Later (Eastern) Han (capital at Loyang).
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Eastern Han Dynasty