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1600 BCE
King Jie of the Xia Dynasty dies, ending the dynasty
After defeating their rivals, the Xia established the first dynasty in China under the leadership of the Emperor Yao. -
Period: 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty is the earliest ruling dynasty of China to be established in recorded history, though other dynasties predated it.They were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and military technology. -
Period: 1250 BCE to 1192 BCE
Reign of Emperor Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty3
Wu Ding, personal name Zǐ Zhāo, was a king of the Shang dynasty in ancient China, whose reign lasted approximately 1250–1192 BC. -
Period: 1100 BCE to 256 BCE
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty made significant cultural contributions to agriculture, education, military organization, Chinese literature, music, philosophical schools of thought, and social stratification as well as political and religious innovations. -
Period: 551 BCE to 479 BCE
Life of Confucius
Confucius is known as the first teacher in China who wanted to make education broadly available and who was instrumental in establishing the art of teaching as a vocation. He also established ethical, moral, and social standards that formed the basis of a way of life known as Confucianism. -
Period: 544 BCE to 496 BCE
Sun Tzu, the author of the Art of War
Sun Tzu (l. c. 500 BCE) was a Chinese military strategist and general best known as the author of the work The Art of War, a treatise on military strategy (also known as The Thirteen Chapters). ... 772-476 BCE), which advocated military preparedness in maintaining peace and social order. -
Period: 403 BCE to 221 BCE
Warring states period
The period saw significant developments in society, commerce, agriculture, philosophy, and the arts, setting the foundations for the subsequent flourishing of Imperial China. -
Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE
Qin Dynasty
Qin Dynasty was the first unified, multi-national and power-centralized state in the Chinese history. It exerted great influence on the following dynasties. -
Period: 210 BCE to 209 BCE
The Terracotta Army is buried
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife. -
Period: 202 BCE to 195 BCE
Reign of Liu Bang
He conquered territories and defeated rival armies to emerge as the Emperor of the Han Empire. He established the Han Dynasty that lasted for over 400 years, the longest dynasty in the history of China. -
Period: 202 BCE to 220 BCE
Han dynasty
The Han dynasty is known its long reign and its achievements, which included the development of the civil service and government structure; scientific advancements such as the invention of paper, use of water clocks and sundials to measure time, and development of a seismograph. -
Period: 141 BCE to 87 BCE
Reign of Wudi
The Wudi emperor is best remembered for his military conquests; hence, his posthumous title, Wudi, meaning “Martial Emperor.” His administrative reforms left an enduring mark on the Chinese state, and his exclusive recognition of Confucianism had a permanent effect on subsequent East Asian history. -
Period: 45 to 23
Reign of Emperor Wang Mang
Wang Mang was a Chinese statesman and emperor. An official under the former Han dynasty, he took the Han throne and founded his own Hsin dynasty. He attempted many economic and political reforms, all of which failed. -
105
Invention of paper
The invention of paper greatly helped the spread of literature and literacy, making books more convenient to use and cheaper. ... Paper was so highly valued in ancient China that it was used to pay tribute and taxes to the state during the Tang dynasty -
1066
The crossbow is used for the first time in battle
Crossbows were in use in China by the fifth century BCE and quickly became an important element in the warfare of the Warring States period.