Topic Page: Chinese dynasties
Summary Article: Chinese dynasties from The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather Guide
| Period | Dynasty | Major events |
|---|---|---|
| c. 2205–c. 1776 BC | Hsia or Xia1 | agriculture; use of bronze; first writing |
| c. 1776–c. 1027 BC | Shang or Yin | first major dynasty; first Chinese calendar |
| c. 1027–c. 256 BC | Zhou | developed society using money, iron, and written laws; age of Kung Fu Tzu (Confucius) |
| 221–206 BC | Qin | unification after period of Warring States; building of Great Wall begun; roads built |
| 206 BC–AD 220 | Han | first centralized and effectively administered empire; introduction of Buddhism |
| 220–265 | Wei, Shu, Wu (Three Kingdoms) | division into three parts; prolonged fighting (Three Kingdoms) and eventual victory of Wei over Shu and Wu; Confucianism superseded by Buddhism and Taoism |
| 265–317 | Tsin | beginning of Hun invasions in the north |
| 581–618 | Sui | reunification; barbarian invasions stopped; Great Wall refortified |
| 618–907 | T'ang | centralized government; empire greatly extended; period of excellence in sculpture, painting, and poetry |
| 907–960 | Wu Tai (Five Dynasties) | economic depression and loss of territory in northern China, central Asia, and Korea; first use of paper money |
| 960–1279 | Song | period of calm and creativity; printing developed (movable type); central government restored; northern and western frontiers neglected and Mongol incursions begun |
| 1279–1368 | Yüan | beginning of Mongol rule in China, under Kublai Khan; Marco Polo visited China; dynasty brought to an end by widespread revolts, centred in Mongolia |
| 1368–1644 | Ming | Mongols driven out by native Chinese; Mongolia captured by 2nd Ming emperor; period of architectural development; Beijing flourished as new capital |
| 1644–1912 | Qing (Manchu) | China once again under non-Chinese rule, the Qing conquered by nomads from Manchuria; trade with the West; culture flourished, but conservatism eventually led to the dynasty's overthrow by nationalistic revolutionaries led by Sun Yat-sen |
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