Search results
This is a timeline of Chinese history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in China and its dynasties. To read about the background to these events, see History of China. See also the list of Chinese monarchs, Chinese emperors family tree, dynasties of China and years in China.
People also ask
How many dynasties did China have?
Where did the Chinese dynasty start?
Which dynasty ruled China?
How many years of history does China have?
China's timeline shows the rise and fall of the main 15 Chinese dynasties, and modern era governments. This table shows the timeline of Chinese history. Read on for the years of China's dynasties and coexisting kingdoms with their founders and capitals.
- Xia Dynasty
- Shang Dynasty
- Zhou Dynasty
- Qin Dynasty
- Han Dynasty
- Six Dynasties Period
- Sui Dynasty
- Tang Dynasty
- Five Dynasties Period, Ten Kingdoms
- Song Dynasty
The Xia dynasty was the first Chinese dynasty. It was founded by the legendary Yu the Great (c. 2123-2025 BC), known for developing a flood control technique that stopped the Great Flood that ravaged farmer’s crops for generations. There is a severe lack of documented evidence about this dynasty and therefore very little is known about the Xia peri...
The Shang dynasty is the earliest recorded Chinese dynasty supported by archaeological evidence. 31 kings ruled much of the area along the Yellow River. Under the Shang dynasty, there were advances in maths, astronomy, art and military technology. They used a highly developed calendar system and an early form of modern Chinese language.
The Zhou dynasty was the longest dynasty in the history of China, ruling the region for almost 8 centuries. Under the Zhous, culture flourished and civilisation spread. Writing was codified, coinagewas developed and chopsticks came into use. Chinese philosophy blossomed with the birth of the philosophical schools of Confucianism, Taoism and Mohism....
The Qin dynasty marked the beginning of the Chinese Empire. During Qin Shi Huangdi’s reign, China was greatly expanded to cover the Ye lands of Hunan and Guangdong. Although short-lived, the period saw ambitious public works projects including the unification of state walls into a single Great Wall. It saw the development of a standardised form of ...
The Han dynastywas known as a golden age in Chinese history, with a prolonged period of stability and prosperity. A central imperial civil service was established to create a strong and organised government. China’s territory was extended to most of the China proper. The Silk Road was opened up to connect to the west, bringing in trade, foreign cul...
Three Kingdoms (220-265), Jin Dynasty (265-420), Period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589). Six Dynasties is the collective term for the six successive Han-ruled dynasties during this turbulent period. All had their capitals at Jianye, present-day Nanjing. The Three Kingdoms period has been romanticised repeatedly in Chinese culture –...
The Sui dynasty, although brief, saw great changes in Chinese history. Its capital was held at Daxing, present-day Xi’an. Confucianism disintegrated as the dominant religion, making way for Taoism and Buddhism. Literature flourished – it is thought that the legend of Hua Mulan was composed during this time. Under Emperor Wen and his son, Yang, the ...
The Tang dynasty, sometimes known as the Golden Age of Ancient China, was considered the high point in Chinese civilisation. Its second emperor, Taizong, was regarded as one of the greatest Chinese emperors. The period saw one of the most peaceful and prosperous periods of Chinese history. By the time of the rule of Emperor Xuanzong (712-756), Chin...
The 50 years between the fall of the Tang dynasty and establishment of the Song dynasty were dominated by internal strife and chaos. In north China, 5 would-be dynasties followed one another in succession. During the same period, 10 regimes dominated separate regions of south China. Despite the political turmoil, some key developments took place du...
The Song dynasty saw the reunification of China under the Emperor Taizu. Major inventions included gunpowder, printing, paper money and the compass. Plagued with political factions, the Song court eventually fell to the challenge of the Mongol invasionand was replaced by the Yuan dynasty.
Mar 22, 2019 · Legends claim that the earliest rulers in China were the Xia Dynasty, from 2100 to 1600 B.C., with Yu as the first emperor, but there is little proof that the dynasty actually existed....
Feb 15, 2023 · China had thirteen major dynasties, which were not limited to ruling families of Han ethnicity, China’s dominant ethnic group. From the onset of dynastic rule in 2070 BC, the power of ruling families and dynasties rose and fell for nearly four millennia.
- Rachel Lockett
Historians typically consider the following dynasties to have unified China proper: the Qin dynasty, the Western Han, the Xin dynasty, the Eastern Han, the Western Jin, the Sui dynasty, the Tang dynasty, the Wu Zhou, the Northern Song, the Yuan dynasty, the Ming dynasty, and the Qing dynasty.
Interact with Chinese history by exploring a timeline of key historical figures, dynasties, events, and artworks. Use the arrows to scroll through the centuries, and click on an era or item to learn more!
