ca. 230–208 B.C.E.	372 C.E.
Construction of Great Wall	Buddhism introduced in Korea
221 B.C.E.	538 C.E.
China unified under Qin Dynasty	Buddhism introduced in Japan
206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.	581–618 C.E.
Han Dynasty	Sui Dynasty
145–ca. 85 B.C.E.	604 C.E.
Sima Qian, Chinese historian	Prince Shōtoku introduces Chinese-style government in Japan
114 B.C.E.	605 C.E.
Han government gains control over Silk Road trade routes across Central Asia	Introduction of merit-based examination system for the selection of officials in China
111 B.C.E.	618–907 C.E.
Emperor Wu conquers Nam Viet	Tang Dynasty; great age of Chinese poetry
108 B.C.E.	668 C.E.
Han government establishes colonies in Korea	First political unification of Korea under Silla
105 C.E.	690 C.E.
Chinese invention of paper	Empress Wu declares herself emperor, becoming the only Chinese woman emperor
ca. 200 C.E.	710 C.E.
Buddhism begins rapid growth in China	Nara made the capital of Japan
220–589 C.E.	735–737 C.E.
Age of Division in China	Smallpox epidemic in Japan
313–668 C.E.	845 C.E.
Three Kingdoms Period in Korea	Tang emperor begins persecution of Buddhism