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210
Burial of the Terra Cotta Army
The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor. -
221
First Chinese Emperor (Shi Huangdi)
A ruler from the western state of Qin united and subjugated the Warring States and formed China in 221 B.C. He declared himself the first emperor of China and named himself Shi Huangdi (meaning First Emperor). During the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C. - 206 B.C.), the emperor connected and extended the old fortification walls along the north of China that originated about 700 B.C. (over 2500 years ago), forming the Great Wall of China to stop invading barbarians from the north. -
221
Date of the oldest Silk found in China
Emperor Qin absorbed the other six states and set up the first unified kingdom in Chinese history. In order to strengthen his newly born authority and defend the Huns in the north, he ordered connecting the walls once built by the other states as well as adding some sections of his own. -
475
The Warring States Period
The name Warring States Period was derived from the Record of the Warring States, a work historically compiled early in the Han Dynasty. -
551
The Development of the Wegi Board game
The history of the talking board goes way back in history. In 551 BC, the Chinese used instruments similar to the Ouija board to communicate with the dead. -
551
Birth of Confucius
His own name was Kong, but his disciples called him Kong-fu-tse, (i.e. Kong the Master, or Teacher,) which the Jesuit missionaries Latinized into Confucius. -
Jan 15, 1000
The Shi Jing Book of Songs
It comprises 305 poems, some possibly written as early as 1000 BC. It forms part of the Five Classics. -
Jan 20, 1140
First use of the Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a siege engine resembling a crossbow in mechanism and appearance. -
Jan 15, 1250
Death of Lady Hao
Died in 1250 B.C. Found the pyrimid in 1956. -
Jan 19, 1480
First use of the Cross Bow
Historically, crossbows played a significant role in the warfare of East Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Today, they are used primarily for target shooting and hunting. -
Completion of the Erya (Oldest Chinese Dictionary)
The book's author is unknown. Although it is traditionally attributed to the Duke of Zhou, Confucius, or his disciples, scholarship suggests that someone compiled and edited diverse glosses from commentaries to pre-Qin texts, especially the Shijing. -
Battle of Banquan
The Battle of Banquan may actually only refer to the third of a series of three battles. Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, shortly afterwards fought Ciyou, or Chi You, at the Battle of Zhuolu. Both battles were fought not long apart, and on nearby plains, and both involved the Yellow Emperor. The Battle of Banquan is credited for the formation of the Huaxia tribe, the basis of the Han Chinese civilization. -
Period: to
Spring and Autumn Period
During the Spring and Autumn period, China was ruled by a feudal system. The Zhou Dynasty kings held nominal power, but only directly ruled over a small Royal Demesne, revolving around their capital. Roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (from the second half of the 8th century BC to the first half of the 5th century BC). -
Domestication of the Buffalo
A majority of the modern historians believe that buffaloes were first tamed and then domesticated for working in various agricultural operations before 2500 B.C. in Mesopotamia during the period of Akkadian dynasty and in Indus valley civilization of Indian subcontinent extending to Harappa, Mohanjodaro and some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana.