East Aisa Timeline

  • 210

    Burial of the Terra Cotta Army

    The terracotta figures, dating from 210 BC, were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China near the Mausouleum of the First Qin Emperor.
  • 221

    First Chinese Emperor (Shi Huangdi)

    A ruler from the western state of Qin united and subjugated the Warring States and formed China in 221 B.C. He declared himself the first emperor of China and named himself Shi Huangdi (meaning First Emperor). During the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C. - 206 B.C.), the emperor connected and extended the old fortification walls along the north of China that originated about 700 B.C. (over 2500 years ago), forming the Great Wall of China to stop invading barbarians from the north.
  • 221

    Date of the oldest Silk found in China

    Emperor Qin absorbed the other six states and set up the first unified kingdom in Chinese history. In order to strengthen his newly born authority and defend the Huns in the north, he ordered connecting the walls once built by the other states as well as adding some sections of his own.
  • 475

    The Warring States Period

    The name Warring States Period was derived from the Record of the Warring States, a work historically compiled early in the Han Dynasty.
  • 551

    The Development of the Wegi Board game

    The history of the talking board goes way back in history. In 551 BC, the Chinese used instruments similar to the Ouija board to communicate with the dead.
  • 551

    Birth of Confucius

    His own name was Kong, but his disciples called him Kong-fu-tse, (i.e. Kong the Master, or Teacher,) which the Jesuit missionaries Latinized into Confucius.
  • Jan 15, 1000

    The Shi Jing Book of Songs

    It comprises 305 poems, some possibly written as early as 1000 BC. It forms part of the Five Classics.
  • Jan 20, 1140

    First use of the Crossbow

    A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a siege engine resembling a crossbow in mechanism and appearance.
  • Jan 15, 1250

    Death of Lady Hao

    Died in 1250 B.C. Found the pyrimid in 1956.
  • Jan 19, 1480

    First use of the Cross Bow

    Historically, crossbows played a significant role in the warfare of East Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. Today, they are used primarily for target shooting and hunting.
  • Completion of the Erya (Oldest Chinese Dictionary)

    The book's author is unknown. Although it is traditionally attributed to the Duke of Zhou, Confucius, or his disciples, scholarship suggests that someone compiled and edited diverse glosses from commentaries to pre-Qin texts, especially the Shijing.
  • Battle of Banquan

    The Battle of Banquan may actually only refer to the third of a series of three battles. Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor, shortly afterwards fought Ciyou, or Chi You, at the Battle of Zhuolu. Both battles were fought not long apart, and on nearby plains, and both involved the Yellow Emperor. The Battle of Banquan is credited for the formation of the Huaxia tribe, the basis of the Han Chinese civilization.
  • Period: to

    Spring and Autumn Period

    During the Spring and Autumn period, China was ruled by a feudal system. The Zhou Dynasty kings held nominal power, but only directly ruled over a small Royal Demesne, revolving around their capital. Roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (from the second half of the 8th century BC to the first half of the 5th century BC).
  • Domestication of the Buffalo

    A majority of the modern historians believe that buffaloes were first tamed and then domesticated for working in various agricultural operations before 2500 B.C. in Mesopotamia during the period of Akkadian dynasty and in Indus valley civilization of Indian subcontinent extending to Harappa, Mohanjodaro and some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana.