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220
The Han Dynasty Collapse
The Han dynasty ended in the year 220. The Han dynasty lasted for more than 400 years. -
Period: 220 to
Period of Disunion
During the time China split in to several rival kingdoms each ruled by military leaders. Historians sometimes call the time of disorder that followed the collapse of the Han the Period of Disunion. -
Jan 1, 600
Porcelain
Porcelain was invented in the 600s during the Tang dynasty. Porcelain is a thin, beautiful type of pottery. -
Jan 1, 655
Empress Wu Becomes Ruler
Married to a sickly emperor, Empress Wu became the virtual ruler of China in 655. She ruled with an iron fist. Those who threatened her power risked death. -
Jan 1, 700
Woodblock Printing
A form of printing in which an entire page is carved into a block of wood. The printer puts ink on the block of wood and then presses it to paper. Woodblock printing was invented around 700s. -
Jan 1, 1000
Dragon Backbone Pump
Around 1000 the dragon backbone pump was invented. It allowed one person to do the work of others. The pump is used by farmer to scoop up water and dump it in the irrigation canals. -
Jan 1, 1035
Spinning Wheel
To meet the increasing demand for silk fabric, the Chinese developed the spinning wheel in 1035. It helped make slik much faster and easier. -
Jan 1, 1045
Movable Type
The movable type was invent in 1045. It made printing faster and easier. It allowed people to move letters and words to make a page. -
Jan 1, 1100
Neo-Confucism
The term neo means "new". Neo-Confucism was similar to the older philosphy, but also emphasized spiritual matters. It began in 1100. -
Jan 1, 1206
Timujin
The nomadic people who attacked the Chinese were the Mongols. In 1206, Timujin united them. When he was leader he was given a new title "Universal Ruler" or Genghis Khan. -
Jan 1, 1211
Genghis Khan Leads His Armies To China
Genghis Khan led his armies to northern China in 1211. They fought their way south, wrecking whole towns and ruining farmland. -
Jan 1, 1227
Genghis Khan's Death
Genghis Khan died in 1227. By the time he died all of northern China was under Mongol control. -
Jan 1, 1260
Kublai Khan
In 1260 Genghis Khan's grandson became ruler of the Mongol Empire. Kublai completed the conquest of China. -
Jan 1, 1274
Mongol Army Sails To Japan
A Mongol army sailed to Japan in 1274. Violent storms and fierce defenders destroyed most of the Mongol force. -
Period: Jan 1, 1279 to Jan 1, 1368
Yuan Dynasty
Kublai Khan became a ruler of the Mongol Empire. He comepleted the conquest of China and declared himself emperor and he began the Yuan dynasty. -
Jan 1, 1281
Mongol Army Sails To Japan Again
Mongol army sailed to Japan again in 1281. The voyage was tuff just like the first. -
Jan 1, 1368
Zhu Yuanzhang Ended the Yuan Dynasty
In the 1300s many Chinese groups rebelled against the Yuan dynasty. In 1368 a former mok named Zhu Yuanzhang took charge of a rebel army and led his army in a final victory over the Mogols. -
Period: Jan 1, 1368 to
Ming Dynasty
Ming China proved to be one of the most stable and prosperous times in Chinese history. The Ming expanded China's overseas and did incredible building projects across China. -
Jan 1, 1406
The Forbidden City
The Forbidden City was built in Beijing. In the building there was 9,000 rooms! Durring the 1400s the emperors were building the Forbidden City. -
Jan 1, 1410
Restoring The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall was built in the 600s BC (or BCE) to block out intruders. It was restored in the Ming dynasty in 1410. -
Paper Money
Paper money was invented by the Song in the 900s. It lasted for about 700 years. -
Gunpowder
A mixture of powders used by guns and explosives. It was first made for fireworks then over time used for small bombs and rockets. -
World's First Printed Book
The world's first printed book was printed in 868. It was printed with woodblock printing. -
Period: to
Sui Dynasty
The Sui dynasty was a very short dynasty. It began after the Period of Disunsion ended. -
Period: to
Tang Dynasty
The Tang dynasty arose in China in 618 when a former Sui offical overthrew the old government. The Tang dynasty ruled for nearly 300 years. -
Period: to Jan 1, 1279
Song Dynasty
The Song dynasty reuinified China in 962. The Song dynasty was a time of great achievements.
