World History Timeline

Timeline

18 events

16th century BCE

  1. c. 16th century BCE – c. 11th century BCE★★★★★

    Shang dynasty rules the Yellow River valley

    The Shang is the earliest Chinese dynasty confirmed by archaeology, leaving oracle-bone script and sophisticated bronzes.

    DynastyCulture· China

11th century BCE

  1. c. 1046 BCE★★★★★

    Battle of Muye: Zhou overthrows Shang

    King Wu of Zhou defeats the last Shang king, founding the Zhou, the longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history.

    WarDynasty· China

3rd century BCE

  1. 221 BCE★★★★★

    Qin unifies China

    The state of Qin conquers its rivals, ending the Warring States period; Ying Zheng proclaims himself the First Emperor.

    DynastyPoliticsWar· China
  2. 202 BCE★★★★★

    Liu Bang founds the Han dynasty

    After defeating Xiang Yu, Liu Bang becomes Emperor Gaozu of Han, opening a dynasty that lasts over four centuries.

    DynastyPolitics· China

1st century

3rd century

  1. 220 – 280★★★★★

    Three Kingdoms period

    After the fall of the Han, China splits into the states of Wei, Shu and Wu until reunification under the Jin in 280.

    WarDynasty· China

6th century

  1. 589★★★★★

    Sui dynasty reunifies China

    Emperor Wen of Sui conquers the southern Chen dynasty, ending nearly three centuries of division.

    WarDynasty· China

7th century

  1. 618★★★★★

    Li Yuan founds the Tang dynasty

    Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu) takes the throne at Chang'an, opening one of the most prosperous dynasties in Chinese history.

    DynastyPolitics· China

10th century

  1. 907 – 979★★★★★

    Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

    The Tang falls in 907 and China fragments into short-lived northern dynasties and numerous southern kingdoms.

    DynastyPolitics· China
  2. 960★★★★★

    Zhao Kuangyin founds the Song dynasty

    After the Chenqiao mutiny, Zhao Kuangyin becomes Emperor Taizu; the Song era sees remarkable economic and technological growth.

    DynastyPolitics· China

12th century

  1. 1127★★★★★

    Jingkang incident

    Jurchen Jin forces sack Kaifeng and capture two Song emperors, ending the Northern Song; the court re-forms in the south.

    WarDynasty· China

13th century

  1. 1234★★★★★

    Mongols destroy the Jin dynasty

    Mongol and Southern Song forces take Caizhou, ending the Jurchen Jin dynasty in northern China.

    WarDynasty· China
  2. 1271★★★★★

    Kublai Khan proclaims the Yuan dynasty

    Kublai Khan adopts the dynastic name Great Yuan with its capital at Dadu (Beijing), establishing Mongol rule over China.

    DynastyPolitics· China, Mongolia

14th century

  1. 1368★★★★★

    Zhu Yuanzhang founds the Ming dynasty

    Rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang becomes the Hongwu Emperor and drives the Mongols from Dadu, ending the Yuan dynasty.

    DynastyPolitics· China

15th century

  1. 1428★★★★★

    Lê Lợi defeats the Ming; Bình Ngô đại cáo

    The Lam Sơn uprising triumphs over the Ming; Lê Lợi founds the Later Lê dynasty and Nguyễn Trãi writes the proclamation "Bình Ngô đại cáo".

    WarDynastyCulture· Vietnam, China

17th century

  1. April 1644★★★★★

    Fall of the Ming; Qing enters Beijing

    Li Zicheng's rebels take Beijing and the Chongzhen Emperor dies by suicide; weeks later Qing forces enter the city and begin their rule of China.

    WarDynasty· China

20th century

  1. February 12, 1912★★★★★

    Abdication of Puyi

    The last Qing emperor abdicates, ending more than two thousand years of imperial rule in China.

    PoliticsDynasty· China
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