Chinese Dynasties

By mayerb27
  • Period: 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE

    Xia Dynasty

    This was a mythical dynasty founded by Yu the Great that historians are still not sure existed. It is said to have developed techniques that stopped floods.
  • Period: 1600 BCE to 1100 BCE

    Shang Dynasty

    This dynasty ruled a lot of territory around the Yellow River and fell because they had a corrupt king. This dynasty had many technological advancements like a modern form of the chinese language, a calendar, and many military, astronomical, art, and mathematical advancements. This dynasty also invented bronze.
  • Period: 1100 BCE to 256 BCE

    Zhou Dynasty

    This dynasty took over from the Shang Dynasty using the "Mandate of Heaven". This sets up the cycle for all dynasties to follow. This dynasty had important philosophers like Confucius, who had a huge impact on chinese culture, and Laozi, whose philosophy was the basis for the Qin Dynasty. There were also many important developments like a unified form of writing, a coinage for the empire, and chopsticks at this time. Sun Tzu also lived during this dynasty. This was the longest chinese dynasty.
  • 771 BCE

    Zhou Court Sacked

    The Zhou Court was sacked in 771 and moved to Luoyang. During this attack the king of the Zhou was killed.
  • 476 BCE

    Warring States Period

    This was the fall of the Zhou Dynasty and led to the rise of the Qin Dynasty. Many different states and kings fought over China, with the Qin Dynasty winning by brutally conquering the others.
  • Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE

    Qin Dynasty

    This dynasty used Legalism and was created by Qin Shi Huong Ti. This dynasty was very short because it collapsed after the first rulers death because it was hated for legalism and how strict it was, not allowing other philosophies. This dynasty made the Great Wall of China, a unified coinage system, a unified legal code and writing system, and the Terracotta Army.
  • 210 BCE

    Qin Shi Huong Ti dies

    The king of the Qin Dynasty dies and the dynasty collapses.
  • Period: 206 BCE to 220

    Han Dynasty

    This dynasty was one of two dynasties regarded as a "Golden Age". This dynasty had many advances in medicine and writing, expanded to fill the shape of China today, and had a major increase in trade. This is because porcelain and paper were invented, and this dynasty connected China to the Silk Road, which also brought Buddhism. Confucianism was also brought back after beings stopped in the Qin Dynasty. This dynasty used the Qin government system forming a civil service system with Confucianism.
  • 145 BCE

    Sima Quian is born

    One of China's most famous philosophers, Sima Quian, is born.