Ancient China By jmeade 1600 BCE Shang Dynasty begins Period: 1600 BCE to 220 Ancient China 1200 BCE Silk is first made in China 770 BCE Zhou Dynasty begins 551 BCE Confucius is born 475 BCE Warring states period begins 221 BCE Qin dynasty unites China 206 BCE Han dynasty established 65 Buddhism arrives in China 220 Han dynasty falls