Ancient china By Layla A. 1600 BCE shang Dynasty 1100 1100 BCE Zhou Dynasty begin in china Period: 551 BCE to 479 BCE Life of Confucius Period: 256 BCE to 195 BCE Reign of Liu Bang Period: 221 BCE to 207 BCE Qin Dynasty Period: 206 BCE to 220 BCE Han Dynasty Period: 156 BCE to 87 BCE Reign of Wudi