Periods in History

Dynasties

Significance

About 1.7 million years - the 21st century BC

Prehistoric

21 Century BC – 16 Century BC

Xia 

Marked the beginning of Chinese civilization

16 Century BC – 11 Century BC

Shang

11 Century BC – 771 BC

Western Zhou

770 – 256 BC

Eastern Zhou (770 BC – 256 BC)

Often compared to European feudalism.
Spring & Autumn Period saw the proliferation of new ideas and philosophies, including Taoism and Confucianism.

Spring & Autumn Period
(770 BC - 476 BC)

Warring States Period
(475 BC - 221 BC)

221 BC – 206 BC

Qin

Beginning of imperial China.  Unitary state with centralized administration.

206 BC – 25 AD

Western Han

Prosperous period in history.
Confucianism installed as state ideology.

25 – 220

Eastern Han

220 - 280

Three Kingdoms

The country was fragmented.

Highly popular historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdom was based on stories of this period. 

265 – 316

Western Jin

317 – 420

Eastern Jin

420 – 589

Northern and Southern Dynasties

Northern Dynasties (386 - 581)

Southern Dynasties (420 - 589)

581 - 618

Sui

China reunified

618 - 907

Tang

Golden age in the Chinese history, and regarded by historians as a high point in the Chinese civilization

907 - 979

Five Dynasties and Ten States

960 - 1279

Song

An era that saw significant economic and social development

907 --- 1125

Liao

1115 --- 1234

Jin

1271 --- 1368

Yuan

Ruled by the Mongols, conquered much of the world

1368 --- 1644

Ming

Prosperous period.  Vibrant literary scene.  Highly popular novel Journey to the West was published

1644 --- 1911

Qing

Ruled by Manchu.  Prosperous at first, but became weak later.  The last imperial dynasty of China.

1912 - 1949

Republic of China

1949 to date

People’s Republic of China