Possible start of Xia Dynasty, China’s first dynasty
Period: 1766 BCE to 1122 BCE
Start of Shang Dynasty, during which a system of writing emerged and large cities were built
Period: 1122 BCE to 221 BCE
Start of Zhou Dynasty, China’s longest-ruling dynasty
563 BCE
Siddhartha Gautama (later known as Buddha) is born; his teachings will form the basis of Buddhism
551 BCE
Chinese philosopher, teacher and author Confucius born
481 BCE
Start of Warring States period lasting around 260 years in which there will be almost constant conflict between different Chinese states fighting for power and control
Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE
Start of Qin Dynasty and rule of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang
220 BCE
Qin Shi Huang begins work to join up and extend a number of separate mudbrick defences built by lords during the Zhou Dynasty. This will become one of the strongest defensive structures ever built – the Great Wall of China
Period: 206 BCE to 220 BCE
Start of Han Dynasty, during which time China’s bureaucracy expands and strengthens
140 BCE
The sixth Han emperor, Wu Di, commences rule. He will be best known for expanding Chinese territory – under his rule, China doubles in size, making it larger than the Roman Empire
100 BCE
The manufacture of steel begins in China
220
The Han Dynasty ends and the empire is divided into the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu and Wu, which fight each other for control of China for 60 years
Period: 581 to 618
Start of Sui Dynasty
Period: 618 to 907
Start of Tang Dynasty
690
Wu Zhao becomes the only woman in the history of China to rule as Empress Regent, she forms her own dynasty, the Zhou, interrupting the Tang Dynasty for 15 years
Period: 960 to 1279
Start of Song Dynasty
Period: 1271 to 1368
Establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, the first foreign dynasty to rule China, by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan
1279
A fierce nomadic people known as the Mongols gain control of China
Period: 1368 to
Start of Ming Dynasty
Period: to
Start of Qing Dynasty, the last imperial dynasty in China, and a period of rule by an ethnic minority in China known as the Manchu