Ancient China Timeline

By clara grass
  • 1675 BCE

    King Jie of the Xia Dynasty dies, ending the dynasty

    He is traditionally regarded as a tyrant and oppressor who brought about the collapse of a dynasty. Around 1600 BC, Jie was defeated by Tang of Shang, bringing an end to the Xia Dynasty that lasted about 500 years, and a rise to the new Shang Dynasty.
  • Period: 1600 BCE to 1046 BCE

    Shang Dynasty

    The Shang ruled from 1600 to 1046 B.C. and heralded the Bronze Age in China. They were known for their advances in math, astronomy, artwork and military technology. The Shang Dyansty was a Chinese dynasty that ruled in the middle and lower Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and followed by the Zhou dynasty.
  • Period: 1250 BCE to 1192 BCE

    Reign of Emperor Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty

    Wu Ding was a king of the Shang dynasty in ancient China, whose reign lasted approximately 1250–1192 BC. According to the traditional chronology, his reign was 1324–1266 BC.
  • 1066 BCE

    The crossbow was used for the first time in battle

    Crossbows were used at the battle of Hastings in 1066.
    The bow and the crossbow gave commanders a weapon that could be used to target enemy soldiers at a long range. In both attack and defense, a company of archers could provide massed fire and attack the enemy before the army could get into melee range.
  • Period: 1046 BCE to 246 BCE

    Zhou Dynasty

    The Zhou dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang dynasty and preceded the Qin dynasty. The Zhou dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history.
  • Period: 770 BCE to 481 BCE

    Life of Confucius

    Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, poet and politician of the Spring and Autumn period who was traditionally considered the paragon of Chinese sages. Confucius's teachings and philosophy formed the basis of East Asian culture and society, and continues to remain influential across China and East Asia as of today.
  • 544 BCE

    Sun Tzu, the author of the Art of War is born

    Sun Tzu was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou period of ancient China. Sun Tzu is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, an influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking
  • Period: 476 BCE to 221 BCE

    Warring States Period

    The Warring States period was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation.
  • 248 BCE

    The Terracotta Army was buried

    The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. It is a form of funerary art buried with the emperor in 210–209 BCE with the purpose of protecting the emperor in his afterlife.
  • Period: 222 BCE to 195 BCE

    Reign of Lui Bang

    Liu Bang rose in rebellion against the Qin Empire in the late Qin Dynasty. He conquered territories and defeated rival armies to emerge as the Emperor of the Han Empire in 202 BC. He established the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) that lasted for over 400 years.
  • Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE

    Qin Dynasty

    The Qin dynasty, or Ch'in dynasty in Wade–Giles romanization, was the first dynasty of Imperial China, lasting from 221 to 206 BC. Named for its heartland in Qin state, the dynasty was founded by Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of Qin.
  • Period: 206 BCE to 220

    Han Dynasty

    The Han dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu.The Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) is known its long reign and its achievements, which included the development of the civil service and government structure.
  • Period: 156 BCE to 87 BCE

    Reign of Wudi

    While unifying the state ideology, Han Wudi strengthened the centralized state power and weakened local forces. He realized the malpractice of eupatrid and established the Imperial College to train qualified officials and talents to strengthen feudal centralization.
  • 105 BCE

    Invention of Paper

    Paper was invented around 100 BC in China. In 105 AD, under the Han Dynasty emperor Ho-Ti, a government official in China named Ts'ai Lun was the first to start a paper-making industry
  • Period: 33 BCE to 23

    Reign of Emperor Wang Mang

    Wang Mang (45 B.C.-A.D. 23) was a Chinese statesman and emperor. An official under the former Han dynasty, he took the Han throne and founded his own Hsin dynasty. He attempted many economic and political reforms, all of which failed.