Ancient China History
China history information about figures, events, interesting facts on chronology and timeline of ancient Chinese dynasties.
Chinese Chronology
China history information about figures, events, interesting facts on chronology and timeline of ancient Chinese dynasties. China, one of the four oldest civilizations in the world, has a written history of 4,000 years.
Mythological Beginnings
The Chinese claim a history of 5000 years, but early "records" are of a mythological and legendary nature. The very existence of the Xia Dynasty, documented in early Chinese histories as the first Chinese dynasty, still awaits archaeological verification.
Xia and Shang Dynasties
The Xia Dynasty of China, about 2100 BC to 1600 BC, is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records. The establishment of Xia Dynasty marked the end of primitive society and the beginning of the class society.
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty, from 1027 to approximately 221 B.C., was the longest dynasty in Chinese history, and in terms of written script, it spanned the period from ancient oracle script to modern Chinese writing. The capital of Zhou was known as Hao, located near Chang'an (today's Xi'an).
Qin Dynasty
During Qin period (from 221 BC to 206 BC), China came into unification for the first time and under reign of the first emperor Qin Shihuang. Its government seated in Xianyang (close to modern Xi'an).
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to 220 AD. Han Dynasty was divided into Western Han and Eastern Han. The Western Han was a period of consolidation and made some military extension.
Sui Dynasty
Started from 581 and ended in 618, the Sui Dynasty only lasted for 38 years. However, it reunited the country in 589 AD after nearly four centuries of political fragmentation.
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty (618-907) is the most glistening historic period in Chinese history. During this glorious period, the politics, economy, culture and military strength reached an unprecedented advanced level.
Song Dynasty
In 960, the Song Dynasty gained power over most of China and established its capital in Kaifeng, starting a another period of economic prosperity. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and implemented the first Chinese policy to establish a permanent standing navy.
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) ended the 370-year divisive period and unified the whole country, paving the way for a lasting unification through the Ming and Qing period. Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan and the supreme leader of all Mongol tribes, established Yuan Dynasty.
Ming Dynasty
Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming emperor, established his capital in Nanjing. But in 1420 Beijing was designated the first capital and Nanjing designated the second. Their names mean Northern Capital and Southern Capital respectively. And it was the last dynasty in China ruled by Han group.
Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty, 1644-1911, was the last of the Chinese dynasties. The dynasty was founded by the Manchu (in northeast China today). It flourished in the 18th century and declined in the 19th.
The Four Great Inventions of Ancient China
Compass, Gunpowder, Papermaking and Printing are four great ancient inventions in China that had an huge impact on the development of Chinese civilization and a far-ranging global impact.
