The dynasty that controlled the most territory among Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han was the Han dynasty.

Quick Scoop

If you line these dynasties up in order of territorial size, a simple way to think of it is:

  1. Xia – semi-legendary, small early core region.
  1. Shang – centered around the Yellow River valley, limited reach.
  1. Zhou – larger than Shang, expanded influence but still mainly “China proper.”
  1. Qin – first unified empire, expanded in all directions and laid the groundwork for the Great Wall.
  1. Han – took what Qin built and pushed it much farther, especially west into Central Asia and south into Vietnam.

By around the 2nd–1st century BCE, under Emperor Wu, the Han dynasty had:

  • Reclaimed and extended Qin’s southern conquests into what is now northern Vietnam.
  • Pushed west through the Hexi Corridor into the Tarim Basin, reaching deep into Inner Asia and controlling key Silk Road routes.
  • Established commanderies in parts of the Korean Peninsula and influenced areas of northern Korea.

Historians often note that Emperor Wu’s campaigns added roughly 4.4 million square kilometers of new territory, the largest single expansion in Chinese imperial history, which put Han’s total control clearly beyond what Qin ever held.

Simple classroom-style answer

If you’re answering this as a multiple-choice or homework question:

Which dynasty controlled the most territory – Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, or Han?
The correct answer: Han dynasty.

Size comparison snapshot

[8] [8] [8] [5][8] [7][1][3][5]
Dynasty Rough territorial scope Relative size (within this group)
Xia Early core around the Yellow River; historicity debated.Smallest / uncertain
Shang North China Plain, mainly Yellow River valley.Small
Zhou Expanded feudal domain across much of North China.Medium
Qin Unified “China proper,” extended south and began Great Wall defenses.Large
Han China proper plus Hexi Corridor, Tarim Basin, parts of Central Asia, northern Vietnam, and parts of Korea.Largest
**TL;DR:** Among Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han, the **Han dynasty** controlled the most territory, thanks especially to its massive westward and southward expansions under Emperor Wu.

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