Timeline of Ancient China

Timeline of Ancient China

Learn about the Timeline of Ancient China. Major events that occured over the course of Chinese history including dynasties, inventions, and famous people.

Ancient China Timeline 

8000 – 2205 BC : Around the major rivers, such as the Yangtze and Yellow, early Chinese settlers constructed tiny communities and engaged in farming.

2696 BC : The illustrious Yellow Emperor’s rule. Leizu, his wife, created the method for creating silk fabric.

2205 – 1575 BC : The Chinese acquire bronze-making skills. China’s first dynasty is the Xia Dynasty.

1570 – 1045 BC : Dynasty of Shang

1045 – 256 BC : Dynasty of Zhou

771 BC :  Western Zhou came to an end and the Eastern Zhou began. The seasons of spring and fall have arrived.

551 BC : Confucius, a philosopher and thinker, is born.

544 BC : The Art of War author Sun Tzu is born.

500 BC : About this time, China invents cast iron. It is possible that the iron plough was created soon after.

481 BC : End of the Spring and Autumn period.

403 – 221 BC : The Age of the Warring States. Leaders from various groups were continually battling for dominance throughout this time.

342 BC : China is where the crossbow is first utilized.

221 – 206 BC : Dynasty of Qin

221 BC : China’s first emperor is Qin Shi Huangdi. To defend the populace against the Mongols, Emperor orders the extension and connection of existing walls to create the Great Wall of China.

220 BC : The Chinese government standardizes the country’s writing system.

210 BC : Emperor Qin is interred alongside the Terra Cotta Army.

210 BC : invention of The umbrella 

206 BC – 220 AD: Dynasty of Han

207 BC : The Chinese Civil Service is founded by the first Han Emperor, Gaozu, to assist in running the government.

104 BC : The Taichu calendar, which will be used as the Chinese calendar throughout history, is established by Emperor Wu.

8 – 22 AD : During a brief period, the Xin Dynasty deposes the Han Dynasty.

2 AD : There is a government census. Estimates place the population of the Chinese Empire at 60 million.

105 AD: Cai Lun, a member of the Imperial court, creates paper.

208 : Battle of Red Cliffs.

222 – 581 : Six Dynasties

250: China is exposed to Buddhism.

589 – 618 : Dynasty of Sui

609: The Grand Canal is completed.

618 – 907 : Dynasty of Tang

868 : The full book known as the Diamond Sutra was printed using wood block printing for the first time in China.

907 – 960 : Five Dynasties

960 – 1279 : Dynasty of Song

1041 : The invention of moveable type for printing.

1044: This is the earliest time a gunpowder recipe has been documented.

1088 : a preliminary explanation of the magnetic compass.

1200 : Under his leadership, Genghis Khan brings the Mongol tribes together.

1271 : Marco Polo sets out on his journey to China.

1279 – 1368: Dynasty of Yuan

1279 : The Song Dynasty is overthrown by the Mongols led by Kublai Khan. The Yuan Dynasty is established by Kublai Khan.

1368 – 1644 : Dynasty of Ming

1405 : Zheng, a Chinese explorer He starts his first trip to Africa and India. He will forge business ties and return with information from the outside world.

1405 : The Forbidden City’s construction is started by the Chinese.

1420 : Beijing was transformed as the capital of Imperial China from Nanjing.

1517 : The earliest traders to enter the nation are Portuguese.

1644 – 1912 : Dynasty of Qing

1912:The Xinhai Revolution marks the end of the Qing Dynasty.

Read also : Cuban Missile Crisis in the Cold War