History timeline
China
38 periods and events, 5001 BCE – today.
Periods and events
| When | Period or event | Kind | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5001–2101 BCE | Neolithic cultures (Yangshao and Longshan)新石器文化（仰韶与龙山） Farming cultures of the Yellow River, known for painted and black pottery, preceding the legendary rulers. | Other | Source |
| 2853–2600 BCE | Three Sovereigns (legendary)三皇（传说） Legendary culture heroes such as Fuxi, Nüwa and Shennong, traditionally placed before the Five Emperors. | Dynasty or era | Source |
| 2600–2070 BCE | Five Emperors (legendary)五帝 | Dynasty or era | |
| 2070–1600 BCE | Xia夏 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1600–1046 BCE | Shang商 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1046–771 BCE | Western Zhou西周 | Dynasty or era | |
| 771–256 BCE | Eastern Zhou东周 | Dynasty or era | |
| 771–481 BCE | Spring and Autumn period春秋 | Dynasty or era | |
| 551–479 BCE | Confucius孔子 | Movement | |
| 481–221 BCE | Warring States战国 | Dynasty or era | |
| 221–206 BCE | Qin秦 | Dynasty or era | |
| 206 BCE – 25 | Western Han西汉 | Dynasty or era | |
| 25 – 220 | Eastern Han东汉 | Dynasty or era | |
| 105 | Invention of paper造纸术的发明 Cai Lun standardizes papermaking in Han China around 105 CE. | Technology | Source |
| 220 – 265 | Three Kingdoms三国 | Dynasty or era | |
| 265 – 316 | Western Jin西晋 | Dynasty or era | |
| 317 – 420 | Eastern Jin东晋 | Dynasty or era | |
| 420 – 589 | Northern and Southern dynasties南北朝 | Dynasty or era | |
| 581 – 618 | Sui隋 | Dynasty or era | |
| 618 – 907 | Tang唐 | Dynasty or era | |
| 850 | Invention of gunpowder火药的发明 Developed by Tang-era Chinese alchemists; later spread to warfare and mining. | Technology | Source |
| 907 – 960 | Five Dynasties五代 | Dynasty or era | |
| 960 – 1127 | Northern Song北宋 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1127 – 1279 | Southern Song南宋 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1271 – 1368 | Yuan元 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1368 – 1644 | Ming明 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1371 – 1567 | Ming: Hongwu's sea ban to the Longqing opening明朝：太祖海禁至隆庆开关 | Politics | |
| 1371 – 1723 | Age of isolation闭关锁国 | Politics | |
| 1405 – 1433 | Ming: Zheng He's voyages明朝：郑和下西洋 | Other | |
| 1644 – 1795 | Qing: Shunzhi, Kangxi, Qianlong清朝：顺治、康熙、乾隆 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1644 – 1911 | Qing清 | Dynasty or era | |
| 1839 – 1842 | First Opium War第一次鸦片战争 | War | |
| 1856 – 1860 | Second Opium War第二次鸦片战争 | War | |
| 1900 – 1900 | Eight-Nation Alliance: siege of the legations八国联军侵华 | War | |
| 1911 – 1949 | Republic of China中华民国 | Politics | |
| 1949 – today | People's Republic of China新中国 | Politics | |
| 1966 – 1976 | Cultural Revolution文化大革命 | Politics | |
| 1978 – 2012 | Reform and opening-up改革开放 | Economy |
Side by side
- China vs Europe: Comparative History Timeline5001 BCE – today
- Han China and Rome: Side-by-Side Timeline206 BCE – 476