The History of China - Discover a Country with One of the Longest Histories in the World

As one of the four oldest civilizations in the world, China has a history of over 3,000 years, which dates back to the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC). China's history can be divided into four main sections: Ancient China lasted from c. 1600–221 BC, Imperial China lasted from 221 BC – 1912 AD, the Republic of China era lasted from 1912 to 1949, and 1949 to the present day has been the modern China era. For most travelers, learning more about the imperial era’s history is helpful because almost all of the ancient Chinese architectural structures were built in that period.

Timetable of Chinese History

Time	Period	Capital	Famous For
c. 2070–1600 BC	Xia Dynasty	Yangcheng, Yangzhai, Zhou, Shangqiu, and Lucheng	The Yellow River civilization
c. 1600–1046 BC	Shang Dynasty	Yin (Anyang, Henan Province)	Inscriptions on bones and bronze objects
1045–221 BC	Zhou Dynasty	Gaojing and Luoyi (later known as Luoyang)	Confucianism and Daoism
221–206 BC	Qin Dynasty	Xianyang	The Terracotta Army and the First Emperor Qin Shi Huang
206 BC – 220 AD	Han Dynasty	Chang'an (later known as Xi'an), Luoyang, and Xuchang	The Silk Road
220–265	Three Kingdoms Period	Luoyang, Chengdu, and Jianye (later known as Jiankang)	A short but romantic and important juncture in Chinese history
265–420	Jin Dynasty	Luoyang	Celadon porcelain wares
420–589	Northern and Southern Dynasties	Jiankang, Pengcheng (later known as Xuzhou), Luoyang, Yecheng, and Chang'an	Epoch of breaking up and the great merger of Chinese nationalities
581–618	Sui Dynasty	Daxing and Luoyang	The Grand Canal and the rebuilding of the Great Wall
618–907	Tang Dynasty	Chang'an and Luoyang	Poetry, tricolored glazed pottery, and traditional Chinese paintings
960–1279	Song Dynasty	Kaifeng	The most flourishing age of a commodity based economy, cultural education, and scientific innovation in Chinese history
1279–1368	Yuan Dynasty	Beijing	The first foreign-led dynasty in China
1368–1644	Ming Dynasty	Beijing	The Forbidden City
1644–1912	Qing Dynasty	Beijing	The last dynasty of China's feudal system
1912–1949	The Republic of China	Nanjing	The transition period from feudal to modern society
1949–present	People’s Republic of China	Beijing	A new start in Chinese history

Top 5 Influential Dynasties in China's History

The top five dynasties are based on the period from the Qin Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. In fact, most of China's territory had been occupied since the end of the Warring States Period. The First Emperor – Qin Shi Huang – unified seven states, and then the Chinese governments began to control the country as a whole.

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1. The Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – 9 AD)

Founder: Liu Bang
Duration: 215 years

The Han Dynasty had a great influence on the Chinese nation since it was founded by Liu Bang. Its four greatest achievements are detailed below.

Emperor Wu of Han ousted Taoism and declared China to be a Confucian state. The Chinese people were expected to embrace and learn Confucianism.
The Han regime conquered a vast territory containing North Korea in the east, the Baiyue (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces) in the south, Dawan (Russia's Fergana Basin) in the west, and they defeated the Hun people in the north.
The peak economic period known as the Rule of Wen and Jing was created.
Most of the Chinese ethnic groups were influenced by the Han Dynasty and were collectively called the Han nationality.

2. The Qing Dynasty (1644–1912)

Founder: Hong Taiji
Duration: 268 years

The Qing Dynasty was a controversial age. The "Kang-Qian Flourishing Age" began with the reign of Emperor Kangxi and reached its peak during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. Emperor Kangxi and Russia signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk while the handicraft industry had almost reached the highest level in the world under Emperor Qianlong's reign. However, the late Qing Dynasty reign was despotic and cowardly. Many people regarded it as one of the darkest times of Chinese history and regretted the end of China's feudal system. A series of dishonorable treaties were signed, such as the Boxer Protocol of 1901 and the Treaty of Shimonoseki.

The Terracotta Army

3. The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644)

Founder: Zhu Yuanzhang
Duration: 276 years

The Ming Dynasty was a starry age without the need for rulers of minority nationalities to get married in order to keep peace at the borders, without payments of silver being made to powerful countries, and without any recreance. Many celebrities in Chinese history were from the Ming Dynasty, such as the great politician Zhang Juzheng, and the military leaders Qi Jiguang. Different from the ending of many other dynasties, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty was frugal and diligent while some of the Chinese people were loyal and even died for their country.

4. The Tang Dynasty (618–907)

Founder: Li Yuan
Duration: 289 years

The Tang Dynasty is recognized as being one of the most powerful dynasties in Chinese history. The territory of the Tang Dynasty was vast: its western and northern occupied areas were beyond the borders of modern China. The culture of the Tang Dynasty surpassed any other cultures in the world at that time. The most famous poets were Li Bai and Du Fu while the leading calligraphers were Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan. The artistic pottery and porcelain created during the Tang Dynasty is highly praised today. As the Tang Dynasty had such a great influence on the rest of the world, many overseas regions referred to Chinese people as the Tang people. Chinatown in numerous destinations around the world has also become synonymous with Chinese streets.

The City Wall

5. The Song Dynasty (960–1279)

Founder: Zhao Kuangyin
Duration: 319 years — the Northern Song Dynasty lasted from 960 to 1127 and the Southern Song Dynasty lasted from 1127 to 1279

Many historians believe that China's renaissance period started from the Song Dynasty. The economy was very prosperous and it's said that the Song Dynasty’s GDP was 80% of the world’s GDP. As well as that, the agricultural industry, silk industry, papermaking technology, and printing technology all had great breakthroughs. Moreover, trade occurred with countries in many parts of the world during the Song Dynasty because foreign trade was developed.