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Period: 1766 BCE to 1122 BCE
Shang Dynasty
The Shang Dynasty was the first Dynasty of traditional Chinese history. Some of their biggest accomplishments were in bronze casting and writing. Most of what we know of this time today is from inscriptions on bone remains. -
Period: 1122 BCE to 221 BCE
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhous coexisted with the Shangs for some time until they got into a 3 year war and took control over China. This was the time in which Confucianism, Daoism, and legalism were all developed. Farming/irrigation also flourished during this time, which increased the crop supply greatly. -
Period: 770 BCE to 480 BCE
Springs and Falls Period
This time is also known as Springs and Autumns period. This was politically during the Zhou Dynasty but the age of confucius philosophy. Was also the time of the phenomenon "A Hundred Schools of Thought". -
Period: 480 BCE to 221 BCE
Warring States Period
This was a time in which China had split into numerous city states out of kingdoms from the period before. The larger states were able to have rapid advancements in weaponry and technology, which overall gave them superiority to the smaller states. Because of this many of the smaller states were consolidating to form bigger states and compete with those states that were already larger. -
468 BCE
Building of the Grand Canal
The Grand Canal was one of the biggest advancements in China. Built a long the yellow river, Grand Canal was meant to make crop shipment much easier and more efficient. Since its been built there have been many revamps/rebuilds of the Grand Canal in order to upkeep its quality and prolong its use. -
Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE
Qin Dynasty
This empire united China under 1 emoporer, Ying Zheng. During this time there was improvements in the writing system and standardization of the measurements for length and width. This was also when the great wall began being constructed. -
Period: 220 BCE to 581
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms was a time in which there were 3 kingdoms fighting for control over China- the Wei, Shu, and Wu. This was a time of major battles and well known warriors. These battles were the stem of many Chinese literature which started to gain popularity at the end of this period. -
Period: 206 BCE to 581
Han Dynasty
The Han dynasty was considered a golden age. They established the silk road in their development of trade and expanded much of China's territory. This time was also a huge developmental era for science and technology. The Han ran on a centralized government that was based around Confucianism. -
Period: 581 to 648
Sui Dynasty
The Sui dynasty was one of the shortest lived. It united the north and the south, which had been divided for years before. Although short lived the Sui dynasty set a steady foundation for the dynasty's to follow. -
Period: 618 to 907
Tang Dynasty
The Tang dynasty was another golden age of China's history. This was a big time for art mostly including poetry. The capital city of Chang'an was also one of the biggest in the world at the time. -
Period: 905 to 960
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
The ruling of this time was split among 5 dynasties (Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, Later Zhou) in the north, and ten kingdoms in the south. This was yet another short lived period but was heavy on implementing harmony through China. Most of their new developments were of the arts, such as ceramics and paintings. -
Period: 960 to 1279
Song Dynasty
The Song dynasty rose after Emperor Taizu of Song conquered the Five Dynasties and ten Kingdoms. During this time there were many advancements in science, technology, mathematics, engineering, and philosophy. Some of the greatest new inventions of the time were the compass and gunpowder, which changed warfare from there on out. -
Period: 1185 to
Feudal Japan
This was a time of military rule and strict social hierarchy for Japan. The Shaimo held most power in terms of military and alliances with little help from Daimyo. Feudal Japan instilled the virtues of honor, loyalty, and disiplin and shaped the modern culture and society of Japan. -
Period: 1279 to 1368
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty was developed by Mongolian nomads that had previously only ruled parts of China. They started in the north and then turned their attention to the south, eventually capturing all of China. They were adamant on building their economy and improving trade. They implemented tax systems, rebuilt the Grand canal, and fixed up the roads and postal routs. -
Period: 1300 to 1521
Aztec Empire
The Aztec empire was a semi-democratic confederation with its ruler being selected from the top 2% of the social hierarchy. Some of their innovations included artificial islands for agriculture, an advanced calendar system, and medical practices such as surgery. The Aztec Empire came to an end after being overthrown by a Spanish conquistador, Hernan Cortez. -
Period: 1367 to
Ming Dynasty
The ming dynasty switched off of who ruled between the Mongols and the Manchu. Despite its switching of powers the Ming dynasty was known as one of the most stable dynasty's being known for its absolute power style. This was a big time in the expansion of impact and culture to places like East Asia and Vietnam. -
Period: 1438 to 1533
Inca Empire
The Inca empire expanded rapidly from its origin and quickly became the largest pre-columbian empire in the Americas. They mostly specialized in textiles and metalworks, but also advanced in agriculture with terrace farming and other advanced irrigation systems. The Inca empire fell due to Civil war, falling behind in technological advancements, and the spread of European diseases that caused lots of death. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty
Under the Qing Dynasty the population of China tripped in size, going from 150 million to 450 million. Arts were again a big part of this time, however they were more focused on jade carvings and ceramics. While this was one of the biggest dynasty's, they struggled with internal problems that ultimately led to their fall. -
Period: to
The Republic of China
The Republic of China is what ended the imperial history of China. They aimed to modernize China while still dealing with internal struggles. While able to stand through war against the Japanese, The Republic of China fell during civil war which ended with many deaths. -
Period: to
New China
This is China's current state, also known as "peoples republic of China". They are currently under communist control and are facing criticism over abuse of human rights. Their culture is still heavily influenced by Confucianism and hold things highly such as art, literature, and architecture.