Zhang Qian

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PHG · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Han diplomat and explorer

c. 164 BC – 113 BC · 51 years · Western Regions · Asia

Envoy of Emperor Wu whose 13-year journey revealed Central Asia to China and opened the way for the Silk Road.

Wikipedia (Russian) · Wikipedia (English) · 2nd century BC

Portrait: PHG · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Contemporaries around the world

Europe

Cato the Elder — Roman statesman and writer, 70 years older

Middle East

Mithridates VI Eupator — king of Pontus, enemy of Rome, 29 years younger

Asia

Emperor Wu of Han — emperor of the Han dynasty, 8 years younger
Sima Qian — Chinese historian, 19 years younger

The world in their lifetime

149 BC–146 BC Third Punic War — aged 15, Africa
c. 138 BC–126 BC Zhang Qian's mission to the West — aged 26, Asia