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2100 BCE
The Xia Dynasty
The Xia Dynasty, according to legend, was founded by Yu, who was credited with having engineered the draining of waters of a great flood. He was later identified as deified lord of the harvest. Yu made the rulership of the dynasty hereditary in his family. -
1600 BCE
The Shang Dynasty
Shang China emerged around 1600 BCE in the central plain of north China, near the Yellow River. Shang cities had palaces and temples, housing areas for the upper classes and the commoners. The Shang people were brilliant metal workers and created extraordinarily fine bronze vessels. Bronze cups, goblets, steamers and cauldrons have survived. -
1046 BCE
The Zhou Dynasty
Zhou was a state based in the Wei River valley in northwest China. In early texts, three great Zhou rulers are said to have made the Zhou state strong, King Wen, King Di Xin, and King Wen's son, King Wu. The Zhou Dynasty crushed the Shang Dynasty under the rule of King Wu. -
600 BCE
Daoism
Today, Daoism is one of the five religions officially recognized in China. People who followed Daoist teachings affirmed the Way, or Dao, an indescribable force that is the source of all that exists. A major theme in Daoism is that yielding is better than being assertive. They thought that human actions upset the order. -
551 BCE
Confucius/Confucianism https://goo.gl/c4nXFf
During the Spring and Autumn period of the Zhou Dynasty, there were many states across China that were often in conflict. Rulers of the states gathered officials and advisers at their courts. Confucius was one of these people. He tried to persuade people to do good, and accept the traditional social roles that had existed in the golden days of the early Zhou. His philosophy became the most important school of thought in China. -
475 BCE
Legalism
Legalism was a school of Chinese philosophy that developed during the Warring States era. Legalism emphasizes the need for order above all other human concerns. The Legalists believed that a government could only become a science if rulers were not deceived by pious, impossible ideas such as "tradition" and "humanity." -
200 BCE
Buddhism https://goo.gl/Xiag9u
Buddhism was brought to China from India by traders along the Silk Road. At first, Buddhism was only practiced by foreigners, but gradually Chinese people attracted to Buddhism, partly because it addressed questions of suffering and death in ways that China's normal traditions did. -
