Silk Road in Eastern Han Dynasty

   Silk Road in Eastern Han Dynasty

   During the last period of the (206 BC–24 AD), Wang Mang usurped the throne, established the Xin Dynasty (9–23). The society was in turbulence and peasant revolts broke out one after another. In 23, the Protectorate of Western Regions was cancelled. The Northern Huns seized the opportunity to reign over the Western Regions.

In 25, the Eastern Han Emperor Liu Xiu (Guangwu Di) re-established the Han Dynasty with the capital of Luoyang. The minority people in Western Regions couldn't bear the heavy tax under the Northern Huns' cruel rule,mens silk pajamas, so eighteen states in the Western Regions asked Guang Wudi to set up the protectorate in 45. However, in order to stabilize society and develop economy, the emperor refused their request. In 74, the protectorate was re-established by emperor Mingdi (Liu Xiu's son) to oversee the Western Regions. In the next year, as soon as Mingdi died, Yanqi and Qiuci (Kuche) rebelled. This remote region fell into disorder again.