Important Events in Ancient China

By jjcarmona
  • 3000 BCE

    Silk first used in clothing

    It is well known that silk is discovered in China as one of the best materials for clothing - it has a look and feeling of richness that no other materials can match. Silk fabric was invented in Ancient China and played an important role in their culture and economy for thousands of years.
  • 1600 BCE

    Shang Dynasty

    In history according to the Chinese, the Shang dynasty began when T'ang, a man of great virtue and wisdom, overthrew the decadent emperor Chieh, the last of the Hsia dynasty. Like the previous dynasty, the Shang eventually declined and ended with the ignominious rule of the last Shang king, Chou; he was overthrown by King Wen and his son Wu who began the third dynasty of China, the Chou.
  • 1046 BCE

    Xia Dynasty

    The establishment of the Xia Dynasty (21st - 17th century BC) is an important milestone in the history of Chinese civilization and marks the end of the Primitive Society and the beginning of the Class Society. It is the first dynasty in Chinese history, and lasted nearly 500 years including the reigns of 17 emperors.
  • 551 BCE

    BIrth Of Confucius

    Confucius, the great Chinese sage, was born June 19th, 551 B.C. at Shang-ping, in the country of Lu. His own name was Kong, but his disciples called him Kong-fu-tse,Which the Jesuit missionaries Latinized into Confucius.
  • 475 BCE

    Warring States

    The period of the Warring States (Zhanguo or Chan-Kuo) refers to the era of about 475 BCE to 221 BCE. It commenced at a time of when the numerous petty city-state kingdoms of the Spring and Autumn period had been consolidated into seven major contenders and a few minor enclaves.
  • 221 BCE

    Connection of Barbarian walls which formed the Great wall

    The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago, by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.). In Chinese the wall is called "Wan-Li Qang-Qeng" which means 10,000-Li Long Wall (10,000 Li = about 5,000 km).
  • 221 BCE

    First Chinese Emperor

    A ruler from the western state of Qin united and subjugated the Warring States and formed China in 221 B.C. He declared himself the first emperor of China and named himself Shi Huangdi.
  • 210 BCE

    Burial of the Terracotta Army

    The burial of the Terra Cotta Army was in 210 BC.
    TerraCotta Army is also known as the eigth wonder. The Terracotta Warriors represent only a small portion of the eight thousand strong underground army buried in front of the Emperor Qinshihuang's tomb.