Classical China

By Opsokopolis
  • 1766 BCE

    Yellow River Valley

    Yellow River Valley
  • 1766 BCE

    Shang Territory

    Shang Territory
  • Period: 1766 BCE to 1111 BCE

    Shang Dynasty

    The Shang Dynasty was a river-valley civilization that developed along the yellow river. It was very isolated with few outside contact or trade. Its main agricultural staples were rice and wheat. The Shang set in place many basic trends and systems that would continue in later history including silk production, ancestor worship, focus on a strong, expansionist state, and the state taking control of cultural responsibilities (such as religion).
  • 1111 BCE

    Zhou Territory

    Zhou Territory
  • Period: 1111 BCE to 221 BCE

    Zhou Dynasty

    The Zhou Dynasty replaced the Shang dynasty. Zhou leaders ruled through a feudal system where local lords controlled their own land and people. There were two social classes. An upper class of feudal lords, bureaucrats, and national leaders, and a lower class of common people who didn't own land. The connection between culture and politics was solidified during the Zhou. The Zhou Dynasty declined as local leaders took more power than Zhou rulers. This was called the Era of Warring States.
  • Period: 475 BCE to 221 BCE

    Warring States Period

    The Warring States Period is technically a part of the Zhou Dynasty, but Zhou leadership had very little control. Local leaders who had previously sworn allegiance to Zhou took power for themselves and began fighting among themselves for dominance. Political chaos and instability lasted for 200 years until the rise of the Qin Dynasty.
  • 221 BCE

    Qin Territory

    Qin Territory
  • Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE

    Qin Dynasty

    The Qin Dynasty emerged out of the political turmoil of the Warring States Period. A man named Qin Shi Huangdi defeated the other regional leaders and consolidated power to himself. His leadership was effective, but brutal and made him very unpopular. He started massive projects including the Great Wall, the standardization of weights and measures, expansion of agriculture, road building, and expansion of Chinese territory.
  • 212 BCE

    Great Wall of China Built

    Great Wall of China Built
  • 206 BCE

    Han Territory

    Han Territory
  • Period: 206 BCE to 221

    Han Dynasty

    After the death of Qin Shi Huangdi, the Han dynasty came to power in a brief period of peasant uprisings. The Han dynasty would last for 400 years and round out the basic political and cultural model that China would continue in until modern history. The two-class system continued with a large bureaucracy in power along with imperial rulers. Confucianism became widespread and focused on social hierarchy and fostered unity. Was a period of general peace and prosperity, even for the lower classes.