Timeline of China

By Kian Shanahan
  • 551 BCE

    551 BC

    Birth of the philosopher Confucius
  • 221 BCE

    221 Bc

    Qin Shi Huangdi, the ruler of the kingdom Qin, conquers neighbouring kingdoms and becomes the first Emperor of China. Work begins on the Great Wall of China
  • 210 BCE

    210 BC

    Death of Qin Shi Huangdi
  • 202 BCE

    202 BC

    Rise of the Han Dynasty (until AD 220)
  • Jan 1, 750

    AD 750

    The Chinese invent block printing
  • Jan 1, 1050

    1050

    The Chinese invent moveable print
  • Jan 1, 1092

    1092

    The first mechanical clock, the Su Song clock, is built
  • Jan 1, 1271

    1271

    Marco Polo arrives in China
  • Period: Jan 1, 1279 to Jan 1, 1368

    1279-1368

    The Yuan Dynasty
  • Period: Jan 1, 1368 to

    1368

    The Ming Dynasty
  • Jan 1, 1405

    1405

    The first voyages of the great treasure of Admiral Cheng Ho (Zheng He)

  • 1974

    Discovery of the terracotta army guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huangdi