Edge of Empire: Yayoi Interaction with the Continent (1st Century BC to Mid-3rd Century AD)

The Han Empire was as large and influential in the development of eastern Eurasia as the Roman Empire was in western Eurasia. These empires overlapped in time and were even in contact with each other through the trade routes across Central Asia that later became part of the Silk Road complex (Figure 3.1).1 The Han inherited the territory conquered by the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) whence comes our name for China. The establishment of a unified empire that has exerted heavy influence on succeeding Chinese dynasties (Yates 2001) and peripheries cannot be ignored in East Asian history.