The Yellow Turban Rebellion was a large peasant uprising against the Han dynasty of China, led by Zhang Jue and rooted in a Daoist religious movement known as the Way of Great Peace. The rebels wore yellow cloths on their heads, and drew support from people suffering from famine, floods and the corruption of the imperial court. The uprising spread through several provinces and threatened the capital Luoyang, and the Han government struggled to put it down. Generals such as Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun eventually defeated the main rebel forces, but the court had to rely on regional commanders. This empowered warlords such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Jian, who would later figure in the Three Kingdoms period.
Before and after
- from 165 CE to 180 CEAntonine Plague
- from 166 CE to 180 CEMarcomannic Wars
- 170 CEDeath of Ptolemy
- 17 March 180 CEDeath of Marcus Aurelius
- from 184 CE to 205 CEYellow Turban Rebellion
- 185 CEChinese astronomers record the supernova of 185
- 193 CEYear of the Five Emperors
- 2nd centuryConstruction of Aqueduct of Segovia
- 2nd centuryPublication of Book of Han
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- 293 CEDiocletian establishes the Tetrarchy
- 17 January 395 CEThe Roman Empire is permanently divided
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 2nd century.