20 Historical Moments That Made China The World’s Power In Waiting

2. The Han Dynasty and the Silk Road (206 BCE-220 CE)

During the Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu expanded China’s territory, establishing the Silk Road—a network of trade routes connecting China with Europe. This facilitated the exchange of goods like silk, boosting China’s economy and fostering cultural interactions. The Silk Road also introduced Buddhism to China in the first century AD.