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3000 BCE
Xia Dynasty
Around 2000 BCE in Erlitou people learned how to cast bronze. Erlitou is often associated with semi-mythical Xia dynasty. -
1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty
The Shang state was a bronze age civilization that emerged around 1600 BCE. Shang cities had palaces and temples. Very engaged in large scale production of bronze vessels and weapons. -
1046 BCE
The Battle of Mu Ye
The Battle of Mu Ye was the transference from Shang China to Zhou China. The Zhou organized an alliance with a number of states to defeat the Shang. Zhou Dynasty was much better than the Shang due to recording history. -
800 BCE
Zhou Dynasty
Zhou was a state based in the Wei River valley in Northwest China, near the modern city of Xi'an. Zhou China is where the first period of Chinese history is recorded, such as the Book of Documents and the Book of Changes. Around 800 BCE, there were around 200 vassal fiefdoms in their new territories. -
700 BCE
Daoism
Lao Tzu is a legendary figure who is thought of as the founder of Daoism. Daoism is about an indescribable force that is the source of all that exists. Is was thought that human actions upset the natural order. Daoism is recognized as one of the five religions officially recognized in China. -
551 BCE
Confucius
He was an official/adviser during the Spring and Autumn period of the Zhou Dynasty. He tried to persuade people to do good and accept traditional social rules which were used during the golden age of Zhou. He also encouraged people to learn from the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents. His disciples organized his teachings into a book called the Analects. His philosophy would become the most important school of thought in China.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUhGRh4vdb8 -
400 BCE
Legalism
Legalism was based on strong laws and tough discipline. Criticism was not tolerated. Ordinary people suffered from hard labor service and harsh treatment under Qin laws. According to tradition 460 scholars were buried alive for defiance. -
211 BCE
Invention of Paper
Up until Han things were record on bones or bamboo strips, perhaps silk. Cai Lun is the man regarded as the inventor of paper. He used rags, tree bark, old fishing nets and other plant fibers. -
202 BCE
The Battle of Gaixia
When Qin died in 210 BCE, Qin institutions fell apart. There were many uprisings, Qin generals defected. Out of the chaos two major powers emerged and they fought for supremacy for eight years. Chu was defeated and Han leader Liu Bang proclaimed himself first emperor of the Han Dynasty. -
700
Buddhism
During the Tang Dynasty Buddhism had quickly become popular, it spread into China from India first during the Han Dynasty. Buddhist Monasteries were important to Tang economy. At the end of the Tang Dynasty Buddhism was highly criticized and was considered a foreign religion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tilBs32zN7I -
