China has one of the longest recorded histories in the world, going right back to ancient times. The timeline below shows key events in China’s history.
Ancient China went through different periods of rule called dynasties. The timeline also shows you when each dynasty ended and when a new emperor took over.
5000 BC-3750 BC
Villages emerge in China. Rice is cultivated. A culture called Yangshao flourishes near the Yellow River. The earliest depiction of a dragon is from 4500 BC.
It was made at this time in a precious stone called jade. People begin to live in a village called Banpo. This village is abandoned in 3750 BC.
3600-2700 BC
Silk is first made in China. The earliest pieces of silk we know about are from a region called Qianshanyang and they date from 2700 BC.
2700 -1675 BC
The Xia Dynasty begins. Between 1789 and 1758 Kong Jia rules. A ruler called Jie is the last ruler of the Xia Dynasty.
1570-1045 BC
The Shang Dynasty. This is when writing is invented in China. The Jiaguwen Script is created. Stories are written, especially Chinese ghost stories.
Emperor Wu Ding rules between 1250 and 1192.
1045-256 BC
The Zhou Dynasty begins.
771 BC-256 BC
The Eastern Zhou Dynasty begins. The Spring and Autumn Period begins. The Spring and Autumn Period was when a famous philosopher and thinker, Confucius, wrote some famous history books called the Spring and Autumn Annals.
Annals is another word for a long factual book. The capital was moved to the Yellow River Valley in this time.
A new script is invented called the Xiaozhuan Script in 700 BC.
512 BC-506 BC
The states of Wu and Chu go to war. This war was called the Wu Chu War.
481 BC-221 BC
The Warring States Period. The Changping Battle is in 262-260 BC.
478 BC
The Temple of Confucius is constructed at Qufu.
221-206 BC
The Qin Dynasty begins. Qin Shi Huangdi became emperor of the whole of China by defeating all the warring states.
The Great Wall of China is started in 218 BC. It was built by extending and connecting existing walls to protect people from Mongol invasion. ‘Qin’ is pronounced ‘chin’. This is where China gets its name.
220 BC
The government makes the Chinese writing system standard (the same).
210 BC
The Qin Dynasty ends after a rebellion against them. Emperor Qin dies. He is buried with the Terracotta Army. The Terracotta Army was made up of 13,000 terracotta statues of warriors and horses.
206 BC- 9 AD
Lui-Bang of Han begins the Han Dynasty. Their capital is in Chang’an. The Han Dynasty is thought to be the golden age in Chinese history.
207 BC
The Chinese civil service is started by the first Han Emperor, Gaozu. They help the government run the country.
104 BC
The Taichu Calendar is established by Emperor Wu. Chinese people use this calendar from this date onwards.
208 AD
The Battle of the Red Cliffs, also known as the battle of Chibi. It was the end of the Han Dynasty.
220-589 AD
Six Dynasties Period.
250 AD
The religion, Buddhism, is introduced to China. It becomes one of the most popular religions in China.
589-618 AD
The Sui Dynasty.
618-907 AD
The Tang Dynasty.
907-960 AD
Five Dynasties.
960-1279
The Song Dynasty.
1044
The first recorded use of Gunpowder (for explosives and fireworks).
1200
Genghis Khan unites the Mongol tribes under his leadership.
1271
The Italian trader, Marco Polo, begins his travels to China.
1279
Conquest of North and South China by Mongol armies. They establish the Yuan. Their capital is now in Beijing.
1279-1368
The Yuan Dynasty.
The Mongols under Kublai Khan defeat the Song Dynasty. Kublai Khan establishes the Yuan Dynasty.
1368-1644
The Ming Dynasty
1405
Chinese explorer, Zheng, travels to India and Africa. These places begin trading and Zheng shares news of the outside world.
The Chinese begin the construction of the Forbidden City (a big complex of palaces in Beijing).
1420
Beijing becomes the new capital of the Chinese Empire and replaces Nanjing.
1517
Portuguese traders arrive in the country. These are the first Europeans to come to China since Zheng.
1644-1912
The Qing Dynasty rules.
