-
4,000 B.C
Early people in China develop agriculture, which results in their settling in villages, often surrounded by protective walls. -
1.500 B.C
The earliest Chinese cities are built and fortified with protective walls. -
475 B.C - 221 B.C
Warring Stated Period, during which China is a collection of hostile separate kingdoms. -
221 BC - 210 B.C
Reign of China's first emperor qin Shi Huangdi. The first Great Wall is built under General Meng Tien's command. -
206 B.C
Beginning of the reign of the Han dynasty -
121 B.C - 101 B.C
Han emperor Wu Di extends the Great Wall into western desert to protect trade along the Silk Road and to subdue the Xiongnu. -
A.D 220
End of Han dynasty -
A.D 1200s
Mongol leader Genghis Khan breaks through negelcted Great Wall; conquers China in 1215. -
1260
Kublai Khan becomes Mongol emperor of China and nearby areas. -
1368
Rebellion led by Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming emperor, edns Mongol occupation of China. -
1368 - 1644
Rule of Ming dynasty, when the Great Wall is rebuilt -
1572 - 1620
Rule of Ming Emperor Wanli, the period when the Great Wall took its present form -
1644
The Manchu conquer China -
1644 - 1911
The Manchu rule China, and the Great Wall ceases to serve as a defensvie border. -
1949
communits led by Moa Zedong come to power. -
1949
Communists led by Mao Zendong came to power. -
1960's
During the Cultural Revelution, artifacts were destroyed, including parts of the Great Wall. -
1984
Deng Xiaoping orders restoration of the Great Wall.