Ancient China Timeline

  • Period: 206 to 220

    Han Dynasty

  • 400

    Age of Buddism started

    Age of Buddism started
    Buddism influenced many aspects of Chinese culture, including art, literature, and architecture. In fact, so impotant was Buddism to China that the period from about 400 to about 845 is called the "Age of Buddism"
  • Jan 1, 705

    Empress Wu stopped ruling

    Empress Wu stopped ruling
    Empress Wu was the only woman to rule china. Her methods were sometimes vicious, but she was intelligent and talented. Although Wu was not well liked, Wu was respected for bringing stability and prosperity to the country.
  • Jan 1, 730

    Li Bo and Du Fu

    Through the years of 730 and 760 Li Bo and Du Fu wrote some of the greatest poems in history. The poems were very fameous around china
  • Jan 1, 1206

    Temujin became ruler

    Temujin became ruler
    In 1206, a powerful leader, or kahn, united them. His name was Temujin. When he became leader, though, he was given a new title: "Universal Ruler" or Genghis Khan.
  • Jan 1, 1211

    Genghis Knan fights

    Genghis Knan fights
    Genghis knan and his army killed all of the men, women, and children in countless cities and villages. Within 20 years, he ruled a large part of Asia. Then he turned his attention to China. He first led his armies in northern china in 1211. They foughttheir way south, wrecking whole towns and ruining farmland.
  • Jan 1, 1227

    Genghis Khan's death

    Genghis Khan died in the year of 1227, all of northern China was under Mongol control. They did not end with Genghis Khans death, though. His sons and grandson's continued to raid lands all over Asia and Eastern Europe.
  • Jan 1, 1260

    Kublai Khan became ruler

    Kublai Khan became ruler
    In 1260 Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan became ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • Jan 1, 1274

    Mongol Army

    A Mongol Army sailed to Japan in 1274. Despite their vast empire, the Mongols were not content with their lands.
  • Jan 1, 1279

    Emperor of China

    Emperor of China
    Kublai Khancompleted the conquest of China and in 1279 declared himself emperor of China during the Yuan Dynasty.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1279 to Jan 1, 1281

    Yuan Dynasty

  • Jan 1, 1281

    Mongol Army weakened

    Mongol Army weakened
    The Mongols lead campains, however they were disastrous. Violent storms and firece defenders destroyed most of the Mongol force. The failed campaigns against Japan weakened the Mongol military.
  • Jan 1, 1300

    Chinese rebellions

    In the 1300's many Chinese groups rebelled against the Yuan Dynasty.
  • Jan 1, 1368

    Zhu Yuanzhang takes charge

    Zhu Yuanzhang takes charge
    In 1368 a former monk named Zhu Yuanzhang took charge of a rebel army. He lead the army in a final victory over the Mongols. China was once again ruled by the Chinese.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1368 to

    Ming Dynasty

  • Jan 1, 1405

    Zheng He started sailing

    Zheng He started sailing
    During the Ming dynasty, the Chinese improved their ships and their sailing skills. The greatest sailor of the period was Zheng He.
  • Western World

    Western World
    By the late 1800's the Western World had made huge leaps in tecnolodgical progress. Westerners were then able to gain influence in Chinese affairs. Partly due to its isolation and lack of progress, Chinawas to weak to stop them.
  • Paper was Invented

    Inveted during the Han dynasty, paper was one of the greatest chinese inventions. It gave the chinese a cheap and easy way of keeping records and made printing possible.
  • End of Period of Disunion

    The man who finally ended the Period of Disunion was a northern ruler named Yang Jian. In 589, he conquered the south, unified china, and created the Sui Dynasty
  • Age of Buddism ended

    Age of Buddism ended
    This golden age of Buddism came to an end when a Tang Emperor launched a campaign against the religion. And thats how Buddism ended
  • Paper Money was Invented

    Paper Money was Invented
    The world's first paper money was invented by the Song Dynasty. Lighter and easier to handle than coins, paper money helped the chinese mange their growing wealth.
  • Woodblock Printing was Invented

    Woodblock Printing was Invented
    Woodblock Printing was a form of printing in which an entire page is carved into a block of wood. The Chinese invented printing during the Tang Dynasty, centuries before it was known in Europe. Printers could copy drawings or texts quickly, much faster then they could be copie by hand.
  • Gunpowder was Invented

    Gunpowder was Invented
    Gunpowder is a mixture of powders used in guns and expolsives. Invented in the late Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was used to make fireworks and signals. The Chinese did not generally use it as a weapon.
  • Period: to

    Sui Dynasty

  • Period: to

    Tang Dynasty

  • Period: to Jan 1, 1279

    Song Dynasty