Timeline of China

Chronology

50 events spanning the history of China. BCE/CE dating.

1. 2000 BCE – 1600 BCE

   Xia Dynasty

   Xia Dynasty. The first prehistoric dynasty is said to be Xia, from about the twenty-first to the sixteenth century BC. The Xia Dynasty is traditionallly supposed to have begun with the reign of Yu the Great and ended with the fall of Jie, lasting for more than 400 years. There were altogether seventeen kings in fourteen generations. According to an ancient version of history, however, it was not Yu, but his son Qi, who founded the dynasty.

2. 1600 BCE – 1046 BCE

   Shang

   Shang Dynasty. The Shang dynasty becomes first dynasty to leave historical records.

3. 1046 BCE – 770 BCE

   Western Zhou

   Western Zhou. Western Zhou period covered twelve emperors lasting for about 275 years.

4. 770 BCE – 476 BCE

   Spring and Autumn period.

   Spring and Autumn period. Ch’un-ch’iu (Spring and Autumn) period of the Chou dynasty. Chou royal line is broken, feudal system in decline.

5. 770 BCE – 256 BCE

   Eastern Zhou

   Eastern Zhou.

6. 475 BCE – 221 BCE

   Warring States period

   Warring States period.

7. 221 BCE – 207 BCE

   Qin

   Qin. Ch’in ruling house survives Ch’un-ch’iu power struggle and initiates the first imperial dynasty, the Ch’in. Shih huang-ti unifies China and becomes first Chinese emperor. Defensive walls in north of China are connected and strengthened into what will become the Great Wall of China.

8. 206 BCE – 9

   Western Han

   Western Han. The Han dynasty founded by Liu Pang, the first long lasting imperial dynasty.

9. 9 – 24

   Xin (Wang Mang interregnum).

   Xin (Wang Mang interregnum). Wang Mang was a nephew of Emperor Yuan Di’s consort and from 1 C.E. was the underage Emperor’s regent. In 9 C.E. he took the imperial title himself and founded the Xin dynasty. He tried to curb the rising power and wealth of the landowners by nationalizing all estates and serfs. He wished to divide the land among the peasants.

10. 220 – 280

    Three Kingdoms

    Three Kingdoms (San Guo). Single Han empire split into the Three Kingdoms when the last Han emperor cedes authority to Wei, the son of a warlord. Shortly after, two other military leaders declare themselves emperor, Shu-Han in the interior, and Wu, in the south. The Three Kingdoms period is marked by civil war.