Han Dynasty
Shi Huangdi was the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty. He ruled from 220 to 210 B.C. Shi Huangdi unified China by conquering the Warring States in 221 B.C. Under his rule China greatly expanded its borders. Shi Huangdi instituted political and cultural reforms that included banning and burning books. He also executed the authors and scholars who he didn't like. Shi Huangdi started an enormous public roads project, and he united a series of wall fortification projects that eventually became the Great Wall of China. He would die in 210 B.C.
Silk Road
The empires of Rome and China developed during the second century B.C., with only vague knowledge of each other because a east to west land route did not exist. At the time, the Chinese called the Romans by the name of Ta Ts'in or Li Kun, while the Romans referred to China as Seres or “Kingdom of Silk.” At first, the Romans believed that silk was grown in trees. However, all of this would change during the Han Dynasty.