Search results
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.
- 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.
- Chinese Dynasties in Chronological Order 🕐 Before we begin with the article, here is a list of Chinese dynasties in chronological order. Here are all the Chinese dynasties.
- Xia Dynasty (2100 B.C. – 1766 B.C.) China’s first dynasty was the Xia. This dynasty is currently considered as “semi-mitological”. According to the historian Sima Qian in his “Historical Memories”, the Xia dynasty had 17 kings.
- Shang Dynasty (1766 B.C. – 1047 B.C.) 🏹 The Shang Dynasty is the first modern historians to confirm its existence, due to important archaeological sites found in the Yellow River Valley.
- Zhou Dynasty (1047 B.C. – 256 B.C.) 📖 Undoubtedly one of the most important dynasties in China. The Zhou dynasty contemplated the birth of the two most relevant Chinese thinkers and philosophers, Lao Tse and Confucius.
- John Misachi
- Shang Dynasty (1766 BC-1047 BC) Shang Dynasty is considered by modern historians as the first Chinese dynasty. The historians have been able to confirm its existence through the numerous archaeological sites found by the Yellow River.
- Zhou Dynasty (1047 BC-256 BC) The Zhou Dynasty was one of the most important dynasties in the history of China. The Western Zhou Dynasty ruled China from a period of 275 years from 1047 BC to 771 BC and was replaced by the Eastern Zhou which ruled for 514 years until 256 BC.
- Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) The Qin Dynasty was one of the shortest dynasties in China, lasting only 14 years. It was the first dynasty of China’s Imperial era.
- Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) The Han Dynasty was the second dynasty in Imperial China. It spanned over 4 centuries and is often referred to as China’s golden age.
The Six Dynasties. Political developments. The division of China. Sanguo (Three Kingdoms; 220–280 ce) By the end of the 2nd century ce the Han empire had virtually ceased to exist.
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.
Oct 19, 2023 · ARTICLE. leveled. Imperial China's Dynasties. From the mythic origins of the Chinese dynasties to the eventual fall of the last imperial house, Chinese emperors have long fought to maintain control over one of the most enduring empires on Earth. The rise and fall of various imperial families oversaw waves of innovation and cultural advancement.
