China Timeline and History Highlights
China Timeline and History Highlights
Most of China’s history can be divided into a series of dynasties from the beginning of the Xia Dynasty in 2205 BC to 2205 BC. To the end of the Qing dynasty in 1912 AD You can learn more about ancient China here.
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- Xia Dynasty (2205-1575)
- Shang Dynasty (1570-1045)
- Zhou Dynasty (1045-256)
- Qin Dynasty ( 221 to 206)
- Han Dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD)
- Six Dynasties (222 to 581)
- Sui Dynasty (589 to 618)
- Tang Dynasty (618 to 907
- Song Dynasty (960 to 1279)
- Yuan Dynasty (1279 to 1368)
- Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644)
- Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912)
771 – Beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period and rise of Eastern Zhou.
551 – Chinese philosopher Confucius is born. His thoughts and ideas will have a great influence on Chinese culture.
221 – Emperor Qin, the first emperor of China, unites all of China under his one reign.
220 – Construction of the Great Wall of China begins to prevent Mongol invasion.
210 – Emperor Qin dies and is buried with the Terracotta Army.
207 – China civil service system established to support government guidance.
104 – Chinese calendar is defined. CE
105 – Paper is invented by Cai Lun.
208 – Battle of Red Cliff takes place.
250 – The religion of Buddhism is introduced. One of the three major religions in China.
609 – The Grand Canal is completed. 868 – Woodblock printing was first used to print books.
1044 – Gunpowder is invented. Originally used for fireworks.
1088 – The Chinese invent the magnetic compass.
1200 – The Mongol tribes are united under Genghis Khan. He begins his conquest of northern China.
1279 – Mongol leader Kublai Khan defeats the Chinese and takes control of the country. He founded his own dynasty, the Yuan dynasty.
1405 – Explorer Zheng He makes his first voyage to India and Africa. Construction of the Forbidden City begins.
1420 – Beijing is declared the capital of China.
1517 – The Portuguese arrive and establish trade with China.
1900 – Violence against foreigners and Christians occurs during the Boxer Rebellion. International forces intervene.
1908 – Pu Yi becomes the last emperor of China at the age of two. 1910 – Slavery is abolished in China.
1911 – The Qing Dynasty is overthrown by the Xinhai Revolution.
1912 – Revolutionary Sun Yat-sen becomes the first president of the Republic of China.
1912 – China introduced the Gregorian calendar.
1917 – China enters World War I and declares war on Germany.
1927 – A ten-year civil war breaks out between the Nationalist Party led by Chiang Kai-shek and the Communist Party led by Mao Zedong.
1928 – Chiang Kai-shek becomes president of the National Government of China.
1934 – Mao Zedong leads his people in a retreat across China, known as the “Long March”.
1937 – China is invaded by Japan. Japan conquered several important cities, including Beijing.
1941 – Japan attacks the United States at Pearl Harbor. China is now on the side of the Allies in World War II.
1945 – World War II ends and Japan is defeated. The civil war between communists and nationalists continues.
1949 – Communists win the war and the People’s Republic of China is established by Mao Zedong.
1949 – Kuomintang defected to Taiwan and established a government.
1958 – Great Leap Forward Policy begins. The plan fails and millions starve to death.
1964 – China develops an atomic bomb.
1966 – Mao Zedong launches the “Cultural Revolution”, killing over one million people.
1972 – President Richard Nixon visits China.
1974 – The Terracotta Army is discovered.
1984 – The Communist Party reduces government involvement in the economy and promotes economic reforms.
1997 – Britain transfers control of Hong Kong to China.
2006 – The Three Gorges Dam is completed.
2008 – The Summer Olympics are held in Beijing.
China Timeline and History Highlights
China’s history is rich in art, politics, science and philosophy. It is home to one of the world’s oldest and greatest civilizations.
Throughout its history, China has been ruled by various dynasties. The first dynasty is believed to be the Xia Dynasty around 2250 BC. woke up. The Shang or Yin dynasty came to power around the 14th century BC. power. The Han dynasty lasted for 400 years from 206 BC. Until 220 AD he was one of the most influential in Chinese history. Much of today’s culture was born in the Han dynasty. Later, famous dynasties such as the Song and Tang dynasties further refined the culture, bringing new innovations to the world such as the printing of paper money, a permanent navy, and complex governments governing over 100 million people.
The Qing Dynasty, the last of the great dynasties, began in 1644 of his. The Ming dynasty was in power, but was overthrown by the Manchus who brought the Qing dynasty to power. During the Qing Dynasty, Western influence, European trade, and a series of wars weakened China. After the Opium War, Britain gained control of Hong Kong.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Chinese people began to desire reform. Revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen founded the Nationalist Party of China, also known as the Kuomintang or Kuomintang. After Sun Yat-sen’s death, Chiang Kai-shek became party leader. However, Chiang Kai-shek rebelled against the Chinese Communist Party leaders and had many of them killed. A civil war broke out between the Chinese Nationalist Party and the Communist Party. A new leader, Mao Zedong, took over from the Communists and led the Communist Party of China on its famous “Long March” to faraway regions of China. There they regrouped and finally gained the power to banish Chiang Kai-shek from China to the island of Taiwan.
Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. The new government was closely aligned with the Soviet Union and was modeled after the Soviet communist government.
In 1958, Mao launched a new plan called the Great Leap Forward. Unfortunately, this plan backfired and China suffered a severe famine with many starving to death. In the decades that followed, China struggled with political reforms and economic policies before slowly recovering and becoming a world power again. Today, China is a world power and the world’s second largest economy.