Xia dynasty of China
The Xia dynasty of China (from c. 2070 to c. 1600 BC) is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records such as Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian and Bamboo Annals.
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History of Ancient China
21st Century BC to 221 BC
China
This is a timeline of Ancient Chinese dynasties, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in China and its predecessor states.
Yu the Great
Yu the Great completed a drainage system that ended the periodic and destructive flooding of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers.
Nine Tripod Cauldrons
The Nine Tripod Cauldrons were forged from metal given in tribute to Yu by the Nine Provinces.
Battle of Mingtiao
According to ancient records, the dynasty ended around 1600 BC as a consequence of the Battle of Mingtiao, which was between Xia dynasty and the Shang dynasty, resulting in a Shang victory that created the elevation circumstances of the Duke of Shang to the throne of China.
Two sets Shang dynasty
Archaeological findings providing evidence for the existence of the Shang dynasty, c. 1600–1046 BC, are divided into two sets. The first set, from the earlier Shang period, comes from sources at Erligang, Zhengzhou, and Shangcheng. The second set, from the later Shang or Yin (殷) period, is at Anyang, in modern-day Henan, which has been confirmed as the last of the Shang's nine capitals (c. 1300–1046 BC).
From Yan to Yin
The capital of the Shang dynasty was moved from Yan to Yin.
Pan Geng became king of the Shang dynasty
Pan Geng became king of the Shang dynasty.
Wu Ding became king of the Shang dynasty
Wu Ding became king of the Shang dynasty.
Oracle bones
The findings at Anyang include the earliest written record of the Chinese so far discovered: inscriptions of divination records in ancient Chinese writing on the bones or shells of animals—the "oracle bones", dating from around 1250 BC.
Zu Geng of Shang
Wu died. He was succeeded by his son Zu Geng of Shang.
Geng Ding became king of the Shang dynasty
Geng Ding became king of the Shang dynasty.
Wu Yi of Shang
Geng was succeeded by his son Wu Yi of Shang.
Wen Ding
Wu Yi was killed by lightning while out hunting. He was succeeded by his son Wen Ding.
Di Yi
Wen was succeeded by his son Di Yi.
Zhou of Shang
Di Yi was succeeded as king of the Shang dynasty by his son King Zhou of Shang.
Battle of Muye
The ruler of the Zhou, King Wu, with the assistance of his brother, the Duke of Zhou, as regent, managed to defeat King Zhou of Shang at the Battle of Muye. Resulting Suicide of King Zhòu of Shang and the fall of Shang dynasty.
Cheng of Zhou
Wu was succeeded by his son King Cheng of Zhou.
Chinese bronze inscriptions came into use
Chinese bronze inscriptions came into use.
Kang of Zhou
Cheng was succeeded by his son King Kang of Zhou.
Gonghe Regency
The Gonghe Regency was an interregnum period in Chinese history from 841 BC to 828 BC after King Li of Zhou was exiled by his nobles during the Compatriots Rebellion when the Chinese people rioted against their old corrupt king. It lasted until the ascension of King Li's son, King Xuan of Zhou.
Spring and Autumn period
The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 771 to 476 BCE which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives from the Spring and Autumn Annals, a chronicle of the state of Lu between 722 and 479 BCE, which tradition associates with Confucius (551–479 BCE).
Ping of Zhou
You's son King Ping of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Marquess of Shen led an attack on Haojing
The Marquess of Shen, whose daughter had been replaced by Bao Si as queen, led an attack on Haojing in alliance with the Quanrong. Yo and Bao's son Bofu were killed.
Ping moved the Zhou capital east to Luoyang
Ping moved the Zhou capital east to Luoyang.
Huan of Zhou became king
Ping's grandson King Huan of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Battle of Xuge
Huan, in coalition with the Zhou vassal states Chen, Cai, and Wey, led a punitive expedition against Zheng. The coalition was defeated and Huan was wounded.
Zhuang of Zhou
Huan's son King Zhuang of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Xi of Zhou
Zhuang's son King Xi of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Hui of Zhou
Xi's son King Hui of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Xiang of Zhou
Hui's son King Xiang of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Battle of Chengpu
The Battle of Chengpu took place in 632 BC between the State of Jin and the State of Chu and its allies during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. It was the first great battle in the protracted conflict between the states of the Yellow River valley, and the states of the Yangtze River valley. The Jin victory confirmed the hegemony of Duke Wen and checked Chu ambitions in the north for at least a generation.
Battle of Bi
Chu decisively defeated Jin at Bi, near modern Xingyang.
Battle of Yanling
A numerically superior Chu force was defeated by Jin in modern Yanling County. King Gong of Chu was injured.
Confucius was born
Confucius was born.
Chinese people were first divided into a caste system
The Chinese people were first divided into a caste system of four occupations.
First written civil code
The Zheng prime minister Zichan established the state's first written civil code.
Dao was murdered
Dao was murdered by his brother.
Dao of Zhou
King Dao of Zhou became the King.
Jing of Zhou
Dao's brother Ji Gai, King Jing of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Zhending of Zhou
King Zhending of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Liao was killed by Zhuan Zhu
The Wu king Liao was killed by the assassin Zhuan Zhu.
Helü of Wu
King Helü of Wu became king of Wu.
Battle of Boju
Wu decisively defeated a numerically superior Chu force at Boju.
Cast iron was first invented in China
The Cast iron was first invented in China.
Fuchai of Wu ordered the building of the Han Canal (Grand Canal)
The Wu king King Fuchai of Wu ordered the building of the Han Canal.
Goujian of Yue captured the Wu capital
The Yue king King Goujian of Yue captured the Wu capital in a surprise assault.
Warring States period
The Warring States period was an era in ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest that saw the annexation of all other contender states, which ultimately led to the Qin state's victory in 221 BC as the first unified Chinese empire, known as the Qin dynasty.
Yuan of Zhou
King Yuan of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Wu was annexed by Yue
Wu was annexed by Yue.
Mozi was born
Mozi was born.
Si of Zhou
Ai was murdered and succeeded as king by his younger brother King Si of Zhou.
Ai of Zhou
Zhending died. He was succeeded by his son King Ai of Zhou.
Kao of Zhou
Si was murdered by his brother King Kao of Zhou.
Weilie of Zhou
King Weilie of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
Partition of Jin
Weilie recognized the Jin nobles Marquess Wen of Wei, Marquess Lie of Zhao, and Marquess Jing of Han as marquesses, granting de jure independence from Jin to the states of Wei, Zhao, and Han.
An of Zhou
King An of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.
First Chinese star catalog was compiled
The first Chinese star catalog was compiled.
The earliest surviving Chinese maps appeared
The earliest surviving Chinese maps appeared.
Gan De was born
Gan De was born.
Shi Shen was born
Shi Shen was born.
The Zuo Zhuan was published
The Zuo Zhuan was published.
The city of Handan was founded to serve as the Zhao capital
The city of Handan was founded to serve as the Zhao capital.
Chu prime minister Wu Qi was murdered by nobles
The Chu prime minister Wu Qi was murdered by nobles at the funeral of its king King Dao of Chu.
Zhuang Zhou was born
Zhuang Zhou was born.
Duke Xiao of Qin became duke of Qin
Duke Xiao of Qin became duke of Qin.
Canon of Laws
Xiao's adviser Shang Yang implemented a legal code in Qin based on the Canon of Laws which established punishment for complicity in a crime, established a system of military ranks, and implemented policies encouraging the cultivation of unsettled land.
Battle of Guiling
Wei laid siege to the Zhao capital Handan.
Wei army fled Handan
The Wei army fled Handan in response to reports of a Qi attack on their capital Daliang and was defeated by Qi forces at Guiling, in modern Changyuan County.
Battle of Maling
Qi dealt Wei a bloody defeat. The Battle of Maling took place in Maling, currently Dazhangjia Town, Shen County, Henan Province, in 342 BC during the Warring States period (476–221 BC). The combatants were the State of Qi, who fought on behalf of the State of Han, and the State of Wei. This battle is well recorded in history texts and is famous for the tactics of Sun Bin, known as the "Tactic of Missing Stoves", in which one side is led to underestimate the other by creating an illusion of soldiers running away from the army.
Mencius became a Qi official
The Confucian Mencius became a Qi official.
Ba was conquered
Ba was conquered and annexed by Qin.
Shu was conquered
Shu was conquered and annexed by Qin.
Xun Kuang was born
Xun Kuang was born.
Wu of Qin became king of Qin
King Wu of Qin became king of Qin.
Zou Yan was born
Zou Yan was born.
Guodian Chu Slips were produced
The Guodian Chu Slips were produced.
Erya was published
Erya was published.
The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips were written
The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips were written.
Battle of Yique
Qin dealt a bloody defeat to a Wei-Han alliance.
Qin conquered the Chu capital Ying
Qin conquered the Chu capital Ying.
Battle of Changping
Zhao intercepted a Qin invasion of the commandery of Shangdang. The Battle of Changping was a military campaign that took place during the Warring States period in ancient China. It concluded in 260 BC with a decisive victory by the State of Qin over the State of Zhao, greatly weakening Zhao.
Qin forces encircled the Zhao army
Qin forces encircled the Zhao army, forcing its surrender. The Zhao general Zhao Kuo was killed in action.
Qin Shi Huang is Born
Qin Shi Huang is Born.
Dujiangyan irrigation system was built
The Dujiangyan irrigation system was built.
Zhengguo Canal
The Zhengguo Canal was completed by Zheng Guo of Qin.
Qin invaded Han
Qin's wars of unification had begun by invading Han.
Jing Ke failed in an assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang
Jing Ke failed in an assassination attempt on Qin Shi Huang.
Qin conquered Wei
Qin conquered Wei.
Qin conquered Chu
Qin conquered Chu.
Qin conquered Zhao
Qin conquered Zhao.
Qin conquered Yan
Qin conquered Yan.
The first emperor of China
Qin Shi Huang took the title Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.
Heirloom Seal of the Realm was carved
The Heirloom Seal of the Realm was carved.
Qin conquered Qi
Qin conquered Qi.
Construction began on the Great Wall of China
Construction began on the Great Wall of China.