Timeline Description: The history of China is a captivating cycle of uprisings and cascades that alternate between peace and war. Fairly primitive to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, China has grown into an advanced nation. Technology, for instance, always seemed to present itself fifteen years early in China than anywhere else.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2100 BC | The Xia Dynasty(2100-1600 BC) The first dynasty of China was not necessarily a unified state. It was, however, a loose, regionalized alliance of several smaller powers. |
| 1600 BC | The Shang Dynasty(1600-1050 BC) The Shang built complex societies that were powered by kings. These intermediaries helped the living and the dead communicate, created the first Chinese calendar, and had sophisticated bronze-making techniques. |
| 1066 BC | The Zhou Dynasty(1066-771 BC) When the Zhou overthrew the Shang, they brought many modern systems with them. During this period, they began distilling rice alcohol and growing the unique cultural identity of the Chinese. |
| 8000 | Agricultural settlements arose in China(C. 8000-2000) Unindustrialized from the eastern coast and along the rich Yellow River and Yangzi deltas, fruitful farms, plantations, and fishing industries were built.The early Chinese civilizations mostly relied on their gathering, hunting, and fishing economies. |
| 475 | The Warring States Period(475-221 GC) As the smaller states of China were dissolved and only the strongest were left, the half of a millennium war ended with only seven states left. However, the Warring States period was also characterized by the circulation of Chinese money, iron tools, canals, and calligraphy. |
| 221 BC | The Qin Dynasty(221-206 BC) China’s first unified empire controlled large geographical regions directly. Mandates were placed from a centralized government, from money to axle measurements and wheel weights. While that seemed strange, it actually served a purpose. Dirt roads uniformly developed grooves with one sized wheel. |
| 206 BC | The Great Wall of China was built During the Warring States period, the dynasties began to build a wall with soldiers, common people, and criminals. The wall was crafted over an extended period of time and modified throughout many dynasties. |
| 206 BC | The Han Dynasty(206 BC-220 AD) Revolt spread after the death of Qin. The Han dynasty took over and introduced a tributary system. This assured that neighbors could remain autonomous by giving gifts. This dynasty gave Chinese people their name, with 90% of today’s population being Han Chinese. |
| 114 BC | The Silk Road Trade routes opened on the Silk Road, an infamous trade route that extended from Europe to China, to India and Somalia. The Han dynasty created a trade system that greatly assisted in developing the civilization of China. |
| 581 | The Sui Dynasty(581-618) Short lived and iron fisted, the Sui Dynasty was known for forcing much of China’s population into projects. The capitol was poorly located in Chang’an, requiring food and supplies to be transported quite a ways from the south. This led to the building of The Grand Canal. |
| 618 | The Tang Dynasty(618-907) During the period of the Tang dynasty, some of China’s finest literature and arts were born. Empress Wu was the only female emperor of China, known for her brilliantness and ruthlessness. |
| 960 | The Song Dynasty(960-1127) After a period of brief warfare, the Song Dynasty saw China through its industrial revolution and mass production of salt and iron. Gunpowder, the compass, paper, and printer were known as China’s four great inventions of the time. |
| 1200 | The Mongols Psychological warfare masters, the Mongols, came to conquer China. Led by Genghis Khan, the Mongols may have been able to overthrow the Chinese government, but were not successful at managing the people. |
| 1279 | The Yuan Dynasty(1279-1368) After the Mongols attempted to rule China, the Yuan Dynasty took control. 1360 saw their fall and the Ming Dynasty took control from 1368-1644. |
| 1644 | The Qing dynasty(1644-1912) In Chinese, Qing means clear and pure. This Dynasty was known for stability and peace.Chinese history is rich with innovation, leadership, beauty, and war. Today, China is a confident and impressive economic force unprecedented in its worldwide impact. China has the world’s fastest growing economy today. |