Approx. 1.7M years ago~2070 BC
Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
With some legendary events like the creation of the world by Pangu and the Nüwa mending the sky.
Approx. 2070 BC~1600 BC
Xia Dynasty
The first dynasty in Chinese history, and the hereditary system replaced the abdication system.
Approx. 1600 BC~1046 BC
Shang Dynasty
The oracle bone inscriptions were invented, and bronze – ware making reached a high level.
1046 BC~771 BC
Western Zhou Dynasty
King Wu of Zhou overthrew the Shang Dynasty. The enfeoffment system was implemented.
770 BC~221 BC
Eastern Zhou Dynasty
- Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC – 476 BC): The vassal states contended for hegemony. Confucius lived in this period and founded Confucianism.
- Warring States Period (475 BC – 221 BC): The seven – state struggle for supremacy. Many reforms took place, such as the Shang Yang Reform in the State of Qin.
221 BC~206 BC
Qin Dynasty
Qin Shi Huang unified the six states and established the first centralized feudal dynasty. He standardized weights and measures, and the characters.
202 BC~8 AD
Western Han Dynasty
Emperor Wu of Han launched a series of military campaigns against the Xiongnu. The Silk Road was opened.
8 AD~23 AD
Xin Dynasty
Wang Mang usurped the throne and carried out a series of reforms.
24AD~220 AD
Eastern Han Dynasty
The “Guangwu Zhongxing” occurred. Buddhism was introduced into China.
220AD~280 AD
Three Kingdoms
The Battle of Red Cliffs took place. Wei, Shu, and Wu established their own regimes.
265AD~420 AD
Jin Dynasty
- Western Jin Dynasty (265 AD – 316 AD): The country was unified, but later faced internal and external troubles.
- Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 AD – 420 AD): There were constant wars between the north and the south.
386 AD~589 AD
Southern and Northern Dynasties
There was a long – term confrontation between the north and the south. Many ethnic minorities integrated in the north.
581 AD~618 AD
Sui Dynasty
The Grand Canal was built. The Sui Dynasty unified the whole country.
618 AD~907 AD
Tang Dynasty
The “Zhenguan Flourishing Age” and the “Heyday of Kaiyuan” occurred. Poetry and painting reached their peaks.
907 AD~979 AD
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Frequent regime changes and wars.
916 AD~1125 AD
Liao Dynasty
It was established by the Khitan people. The Liao – Song Treaty of Chanyuan was signed.
960 AD~1279 AD
Song Dynasty
- Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1127 AD): The reform of Wang Anshi took place. The economy and culture were prosperous.
- Southern Song Dynasty (1127 AD – 1279 AD): There were constant wars with the Jin and Yuan Dynasties.
1038 AD~1127 AD
Western Xia Dynasty
It was founded by the Tangut people. There were wars and peace with the Song Dynasty.
1115 AD~1234 AD
Jin Dynasty
The Jin Dynasty defeated the Liao Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty.
1271 AD~1368 AD
Yuan Dynasty
Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty. The territory of China was extremely vast.
1368 AD~1644 AD
Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty. Zheng He made voyages to the Western Seas.
1644 AD~1911 AD
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty unified the whole country. In the late Qing Dynasty, there were a series of foreign – related wars and unequal treaties.
1912 AD~1949 AD
Republic of China
The 1911 Revolution overthrew the feudal monarchy. The May 4th Movement took place in 1919. The Chinese People’s Liberation War was fought.
Since 1949 AD
People’s Republic of China
New China was founded in 1949. The socialist transformation was completed in 1956. The reform and opening – up policy was implemented in 1978.
