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Historical map · AD 1

Map of China and East Asia in AD 1

In AD 1, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 8 states, empires and other polities in China and East Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu, Xiongnu and Goguryeo. The Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu reached well beyond China and East Asia: its whole territory measured about 11.3 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on China and East Asia in AD 1. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

OPEN AD 1 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about AD 1

States and empires in China and East Asia in AD 1

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu Wikipedia5.9 million km²11.3 million km²202 BC–AD 1201
Xiongnu Wikipedia2.0 million km²2.4 million km²208 BC–AD 153
Goguryeo Wikipedia94,000 km²94,000 km²36 BC–AD 681
Mahan Wikipedia50,000 km²50,000 km²91 BC–AD 346
Dong-okjeo Wikipedia32,000 km²32,000 km²36 BC–AD 153
Dongye Wikipedia29,000 km²29,000 km²91 BC–AD 391
Jinhan Wikipedia24,000 km²24,000 km²91 BC–AD 377
Byeonhan Wikipedia14,000 km²14,000 km²91 BC–AD 566

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 100 BC

New on the map: Goguryeo, Mahan, Dong-okjeo, Dongye, Jinhan, Byeonhan.

Gone from the map: Korean Jin, Shunga Empire, Gojoseon.

What comes next: 100

Appear by 100: Xianbei, Pyu City-States.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in China and East Asia in AD 1?

The map data draws 8 states and other polities in China and East Asia in AD 1. The largest by land were the Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu, Xiongnu, Goguryeo, Mahan and Dong-okjeo.

What was the largest empire in China and East Asia in AD 1?

Of the states on this map, the Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu held the most land in total: about 11.3 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore China and East Asia in AD 1 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at AD 1, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

China in other years

Other regions in AD 1