The History of Tea

Chinese Ceramics, A Brief History

How Old Is Chinese Civilization?

Sima Qian (c.  145 – c.  86 BCE) was a Chinese historian of the early Han dynasty (206 BCE – CE 220). He is considered the father of Chinese historiography for his Records of the Grand Historian, a general history of China covering more than two thousand years beginning from the rise of the legendary Yellow Emperor and the formation of the first Chinese polity to the reigning sovereign of Sima Qian's time, Emperor Wu of Han. As the first universal history of the world as it was known to the ancient Chinese, the Records of the Grand Historian served as a model for official history-writing for subsequent Chinese dynasties and the Chinese cultural sphere (Korea, Vietnam, Japan) up until the 20th century.

Sima Qian aspired to compile history and toured around China

Ancient Chinese Technology and Inventions That Changed The World

2023 China Geographic Challenge

Why 94% of China Lives East of This Line

The history of China is expansive, dating back several millennia and comprising a wide geographical scope. It began in key river valleys like the Yellow, Yangtze, and Pearl rivers where classical Chinese civilization first emerged. The traditional lens through which Chinese history is viewed is the dynastic cycle, with each dynasty contributing to a thread of continuity that stretches back thousands of years. The Neolithic period saw the rise of early societies along these rivers, with the Erlitou culture and Xia dynasty being among the earliest. Writing in China dates back to roughly 1250 BCE, as seen in oracle bones and bronze inscriptions, making China one of the few places where writing was independently invented. China was first united as an imperial state under <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Qin-dynasty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qin Shi Huang</a> in 221 BCE, marking the start of the classical age with the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Han-Dynasty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Han dynasty</a> (206 BCE - CE 220). The Han era was significant for several reasons; it standardized weights, measures, and law across the country. It also saw the official adoption of Confucianism, the creation of the earliest core texts, and significant technological advancements that were on par with the Roman Empire at the time. During this era, China also reached some of its furthest geographical extents. The Sui dynasty in the late 6th century briefly united China before giving way to the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Tang-Dynasty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tang dynasty</a> (608–907), considered another golden age. The Tang period was marked by significant developments in science, technology, poetry, and economics. <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Buddhism" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Buddhism</a> and orthodox Confucianism were also highly influential during this time. The succeeding Song dynasty (960–1279) represented the peak of Chinese cosmopolitan development, with the introduction of mechanical printing and significant scientific advancements. The Song era also solidified the integration of Confucianism and Taoism into Neo-Confucianism. By the 13th century, the Mongol Empire had conquered China, leading to the establishment of the Yuan dynasty in 1271. Contact with Europe began to increase. The <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Ming-dynasty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ming dynasty</a> (1368–1644) that followed had its own achievements, including global exploration and public works projects like the restoration of the Grand Canal and Great Wall. The <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/Qing-dynasty" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Qing dynasty</a> succeeded the Ming and marked the largest territorial extent of imperial China, but also began a period of conflict with European powers, leading to the Opium Wars and unequal treaties. Modern China emerged from the upheavals of the 20th century, starting with the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that led to the Republic of China. A civil war between Nationalists and Communists followed, compounded by an invasion by <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Japan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Japan</a>. The Communist victory in 1949 led to the establishment of the <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-the-Peoples-Republic-of-China" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">People's Republic of China</a>, with <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-Taiwan" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Taiwan</a> continuing as the Republic of China. Both claim to be the legitimate government of China. After the death of Mao Zedong, economic reforms initiated by Deng Xiaoping led to rapid economic growth. Today, China is one of the world's major economies, and as of 2023, it became the second most populous country, surpassed only by <a href="https://history-maps.com/story/History-of-India" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">India</a>.

Visual Timelines

History of China Timeline

History of China Timeline

Prehistory

Neolithic Age of China

Bronze Age of China

Ancient China

Xia Dynasty

Shang Dynasty

Zhou dynasty

Spring and Autumn Period

Confucius

Warring States Period

Tao Te Ching

Legalism

Qin Dynasty

Imperial China

Han Dynasty

Buddhism arrives in China

Cai Lun invents Paper

Three Kingdoms

Jin Dynasty

Sixteen Kingdoms

Former Qin

Northern and Southern Dynasties

Sui Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period

Liao Dynasty

Song Dynasty

Western Xia

Jurchen Dynasty

Yuan Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

Qing Dynasty

First Opium War

Taiping Rebellion

Second Opium War

First Sino-Japanese War

Boxer Rebellion

Modern China

Republic of China

Chinese Civil War

Second Sino-Japanese War

People's Republic of China

Shop Now

Support HM Project

History of Ireland

Migration of Early Modern Humans

Geopolitical Theories

Life in a Medieval Village

Logistics during the American Civil War

Art of War of the Byzantine Empire

Naval Warfare during the American Revolution

Feedback