Prehistoric and Ancient China
- Neolithic Period (ca. 10,000–ca. 2000 BCE): Early agricultural societies emerged in the Yellow and Yangtze river valleys, cultivating millet and rice and producing distinctive pottery.
- Xia Dynasty (ca. 2100–1600 BCE): The first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography, though largely legendary. It is associated with the emergence of early state-level society.
- Shang Dynasty (ca. 1600–1046 BCE): The first dynasty with clear archaeological and written records (oracle bones). This era saw advances in bronze casting, mathematics, and astronomy.
- Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE): The longest-ruling dynasty, which introduced the concept of the "Mandate of Heaven" to legitimize rule. This period included the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, an "Axial Age" during which major philosophies like Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism emerged.
Imperial China
- Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE): Qin Shi Huang unified China for the first time as a single imperial state under an emperor (Huangdi). The Qin standardized weights, measures, and the writing system and began construction of the Great Wall.
- Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE): A "golden age" of Chinese history, contemporary with the Roman Empire. The Han established Confucianism as the state philosophy and opened the trade routes known as the Silk Road.
- Period of Disunity (Three Kingdoms, Six Dynasties) (220–589 CE): A lengthy era of fragmentation and civil war, during which Buddhism spread throughout China.
- Sui and Tang Dynasties (581–907 CE): Reunification under the Sui led to the culturally and economically flourishing Tang dynasty, considered another high point of Chinese civilization. The only female emperor, Wu Zetian, reigned during the Tang period.
- Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE): An era of significant technological innovation, including the invention of paper money, movable type printing, the compass, and gunpowder.
- Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 CE): Established by the Mongol Empire after conquering China. It was during this time that Marco Polo visited China and Beijing became the capital.
- Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 CE): Chinese rule was reinstated. The Ming built much of the current Great Wall, expanded trade, and commissioned maritime expeditions led by Zheng He.
- Qing Dynasty (1644–1912 CE): The last imperial dynasty, ruled by the Manchu people. The Qing empire reached its greatest territorial extent but faced increasing pressure from Western powers in the 19th century, leading to the Opium Wars and "unequal treaties".
Modern China
-
(1912–1949): The imperial system was overthrown by the Xinhai Revolution. The Republic was established under Sun Yat-sen but struggled with internal warlordism and a civil war between the Nationalist government (Kuomintang) and the Communist Party.
-
People's Republic of China
(1949–Present): After the Communist victory in the Civil War, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949. The Nationalists retreated to Taiwan.
- Mao Era: The PRC underwent major societal changes, including the disastrous Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, which caused immense upheaval.
- Post-Mao Reforms: After Mao's death, Deng Xiaoping initiated economic reforms around 1978, leading to rapid economic growth and integration into the global economy.
- Recent History: China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and hosted the Olympic Games in 2008. Under current leadership, the country has continued its economic development while consolidating political power.
|
 |
