Chinese Dynasties

Start of Shang Dynasty

1766 BCE

The beginning of the Shang Dynasty

Development of Taoism

1600 BCE

Taoism, of Daoism, is both a religion and philosophy in China.
It is primarily attributed to Lao Tzu and was made an official religion later on in the Tang Dynasty.

Writing Develops

1600 BCE

Writing develops in China during the Shang dynasty.

Bronze Work and Society

1500 BCE

The largest contribution artisans and craftsmen gave was their work with Bronze. It was very important to society. They made weapons and pottery as well as ritual vessels and treasures that aristocrats and royals were likely berried with.

Capital to Yin

1300 BCE

The first capital of China was established in Bo but it was moved many times until the king Pan Geng settled the capital in Yin.

Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty

1250 BCE

The reign of Wu Ding which is the longest rein in the dynasty is seen as the climax of the dynasty before it's decline. When first put into power he refused to talk for three years because he did not have a competent adviser. All of the political matters of the country were solved by Wu Dings council members.

Oracle Bones

1250 BCE

Oracle Bones, or dragon bones, were the shoulder blade of an ox or the shell of a turtle. Fortune tellers would use them for divination, carving in words and symbols before heating up the bone and applying a hot poker to make the bone crack. They would then interpret the direction of the crack and predict the future

End Of Shang Dynasty

1122 BCE

King Wu of Zhou defeated King Shang Zhou and ended the Shang Dynasty.

Start of Zhou Dynasty

1122 BCE

King Wu of Zhou took power after defeating Emperor Shang Zhou in the battle of Mue. He started the Zhou Dynasty.

Battle of Muye

1046 BCE

One of the most well known battles, the battle of Muye established the Zhou Dynasty. It is a prime example of a ancient chariot war. It embodies strategy and operational art.

Spring and Autumn Period

772 BCE

The imperial house during these this period, with priestly, ritualistic, and diplomatic functions slowly lost power as local nobles fought for said power. Artisans and Merchants began to assimilate some king of significance and education and intellectual life advanced.

Sacrificial Jars

722 BCE

These were jars made for the Shang emperors. They are made of bronze and take a different more complicated shape than most cups, often the shape of an animal. More people learned to read and write, phrases and scriptures were engraved into the jars. They slowly became more popular and with time people of higher value would use them for less of a religious reason and more people would make them more everyday use in the modern home. They because simple cups to those in modern homes.

Patriarchal Roles

700 BCE

Like those in other river valley civilizations, those in the Zhou Dynasty followed patriarchal roles. Men of the household were in charge and were able to decide who in their home would be educated or not and which daughters were able to be married.

Confucius

600 BCE

A Chinese Philosopher of the 6th century BC, Confucius became a larger than life figure who taught about Confucianism. It's hard to separate him from reality and myth. His teachings consisted of the importance of a virtuous life and the importance of inner moral harmony.

Lao-Tzu

500 BCE

He was a Chinese philosopher and was credited to be the founder of Taoism. People are unsure if he lived at all but he known for "the wisdom of silence" and his title meaning "old teacher"

Emperor Shi Huangti Adopts Legalism

280 BCE

Banning all other philosophies Emperor Shi Huangti adopts Legalism. Legalism is a philosophical belief that humans are more inclined to do wrong than they are to do right. This is said because humans are motivated by self interest. This philosophy developed in a time of great warfare.

Ying Zheng of Qin

259 BCE

The leader of China who became obsessed with immortality, Ying Zheng, went on a journey to find the elixir said to give him eternal life. He died in 210 BC and his incredibly extravagant tomb did not go to waste. He decreed it to be built like a palace and had 8,000 warriors to protect him on the other side. It is said this tomb was a vision of Heaven itself.

King Ying Zheng Defeats Warring States

230 BCE

Defeating the warring States and claiming the Mandate of Heaven, King Ying Zheng led the Qin victorious in unifying t he Chinese state. During this time there were significant developments in society, commerce, agriculture, philosophy, and the arts.

End of Zhou Dynasty

221 BCE

This dynasty came to an end when it was captured during the Warring States Period by the Qin.

Start of Qin Dynasty

221 BCE

Qin Shi Huang proclaimed himself emperor after unifying China.

The Centralization of Power

221 BCE

Emperor Qin Shi Huang made a new system of prefectures, the fist two-tier system in China and the writing system, money, and measurements were standardized. He also ordered that everyone would have to serve one year in the military at least.

Construction of the Great Wall

221 BCE

The building of the great wall started in 221 BC when Qin Shi Huang was in rule. The wall was built along the country's northern border to prevent the invasion of the Huns.

Burning of Records

213 BCE

Under Li Si of the Qin, the order to burn all past historians' records except the Qin government's official philosophy was given. Much of the culture, literature, and scholarly works of the Zhou era were destroyed.

End of Qin Dynasty

206 BCE

Known as the Chu-Han war, Liu bang and Xiang Yu fought for four years for the rule over China but it was finally won by Liu Bang.

Start Of Han Dynasty

206 BCE

Liu Bang became the ruler of China and started the second imperial dynasty.

Liu-Bang of Han

206 BCE

Liu Bang made great contributions to his empire as an outstanding politician, strategist and director. He rebelled against the despotic rule of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC and with Xiang Yu attacked the Qin and overthrew the Qin Dynasty.

Battle of Gaixia

202 BCE

This was the battle where Liu-Bang, King of Han, defeated King Xiang-Yu of Chu. Liu Bang then founded the Han Dynasty.

Confucianism

141 BCE

Legalism is abandoned in favor of Confucianism by Emperor Wu. Confucianism was composed of a set of political and moral doctrines and is also known as the Ru-jia doctrine by scholars today.

Silk Road

138 BCE

Zhang Qian opens up the silk road trading route between China and central Asia. The population of China reached 50 million during the Han dynasty and agriculture, handicrafts and commerce flourished. Emperor Wudi wished to expand the empire and to do so started the Silk Road. Religion as well as trade flourished and spread throughout the regions.

First Buddhist Translator

148

The first Buddhist traslator An Shigao was the first to create a translation centre in the Chinese imperial capital, Luoyang.

Yellow Turban Rebellion

184

A large peasant uprising, the Yellow Turban Rebellion or The Yellow Scarves Rebellion breaks out when government officials across China. Emperor Ling was in rule at the time.

End of Han Dynasty

581

The Han dynasty's last ruler, Emperor Xian created a vast uproar, the country weakened and was sent into a period of civil war.

Start of Sui Dynasty

581

In 581, Yang Jian proclaimed himself Emperor Wen after replacing the Zhou with Sui.

Wendi Centralizes Government

583

After moving the capital Wendi takes steps to centralize the government and prevent corruption. He creates a merit-based system and begins his attacks on southern China.

Yuwen Kai designs Capital

583

Architect Yuwen Kai was put in charge of designing the new capital of China. The city he designed was six times larger than the present day city, Xi'an. Painters would travel to the country just to see the city and the Sui established a reputation for art that lives on into the Tang Dynasty.

Sui Defeat Southern Dynasties

589

The Sui defeat all other dynasties and for the first time since the Han, the Sui unifies all of China.

Yang Jian And Buddhism

600

Emperor Yang Jian unified China based on Confucianism but he was also a supporter of Buddhism. Buddhism was wide spread by this time and to win the wars he relied on the religion. Wendi also supported it and tried to live off Ashoka's example. Buddhism gained a lot of attention during the 6th century.

Emperor Yangdi Leaves Capital

617

With the absence of Yangdi rebel forces were able to take a rise in the Sui capital. In 617 rebel armies had captured store units near Luoyang which deprived the Sui armies of food and supplies.

Reunion of China

618

Emperor Wendi reunified and reorganized China after 300 years of instability and founded the Sui dynasty. Under his rule the Sui defeated the numerous small kingdoms of southern China.

End of Sui Dynasty

648

The Sui Dynasty comes to an end after 38 years. It lost its foothold when the second of the three emperors, Emperor Yang, took a tyrannical approach to ruling. Because of this the Sui was often compared to the Qin.