Final answer:
The Han dynasty was the next to rule ancient China after the Qin dynasty's fall, with Liu Bang as its first emperor, Emperor Gaozu.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dynasty that succeeded the Qin dynasty after its downfall was the Han dynasty. The armies of the Qin's second emperor failed against Liu Bang, who was a commoner before he became Emperor Gaozu and ushered in the Han era. The Han dynasty made significant departures from Qin policies by reducing taxes and easing burdens on the common people. Yet, it took the Qin's imperial framework such as uniform laws, centralized bureaucracy, and early expansionism to heart, which laid the foundations for Han's extensive reign and cultural development. The Han dynasty, ruling from 206 BCE to 220 CE, is known for consolidating and developing numerous imperial institutions and promoting Confucianism as the state philosophy.