World History Timeline

Timeline

158 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

8th century BCE

6th century BCE

  1. 551 BCE★★★★★

    Birth of Confucius

    Confucius, founder of Confucianism, is born in the state of Lu; his teachings shape East Asian culture for over two millennia.

    BirthReligionCulture· China

5th century BCE

  1. c. 475 BCE – 221 BCE★★★★★

    Warring States period

    Seven major states vie for supremacy for over two centuries, an era that also sees the flourishing of the Hundred Schools of Thought.

    WarPolitics· 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. c. 215 BCE★★★★★

    Qin links walls into the Great Wall

    Under Qin Shi Huang, general Meng Tian connects and extends northern walls as a defence against the Xiongnu.

    WarTechnology· China
  3. 210 BCE★★★★★

    Death of Qin Shi Huang

    The first emperor of unified China dies while on tour; the Qin dynasty collapses within a few years.

    DeathPolitics· China
  4. 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

2nd century BCE

  1. c. 179 BCE★★★★★

    Nanyue conquers Âu Lạc

    Zhao Tuo, king of Nanyue, conquers Âu Lạc and incorporates it into Nanyue; traditionally dated to 179 BCE.

    WarPolitics· Vietnam, China

1st century

2nd century

  1. 105★★★★★

    Cai Lun improves papermaking

    The Han court official Cai Lun presents a papermaking process using bark, rags and fishing nets.

    Technology· China
  3. 184★★★★★

    Yellow Turban Rebellion

    A peasant uprising led by Zhang Jiao shakes the Eastern Han and paves the way for an era of rival warlords.

    WarReligion· China

3rd century

  1. 208★★★★★

    Battle of Red Cliffs

    Allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeat Cao Cao's army on the Yangtze, preventing him from conquering the south.

    War· China
  2. 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. c. 538★★★★★

    Buddhism introduced to Japan

    By tradition, a king of Baekje sends Buddhist images and scriptures to the Yamato court, beginning Buddhism's spread in Japan.

    Religion· Japan, South Korea
  2. 589★★★★★

    Sui dynasty reunifies China

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

    WarDynasty· China

7th century

  2. 605 – c. 610★★★★★

    Sui builds the Grand Canal

    Emperor Yang of Sui links and extends canals into the Grand Canal, joining the Yellow River and Yangtze basins.

    TechnologyEconomy· China
  3. 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
  4. 626★★★★★

    Xuanwu Gate incident

    Li Shimin kills two rival brothers and soon takes the throne as Emperor Taizong, whose reign is remembered as a golden age.

    Politics· China
  5. 629 – 645★★★★★

    Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India

    The monk Xuanzang travels to India and brings back hundreds of Buddhist texts, which he translates into Chinese.

    ReligionExploration· China, India
  6. 645★★★★★

    Taika Reform

    The Japanese court launches reforms modelled on Tang China, centralising power around the emperor.

    Politics· Japan
  7. 668★★★★★

    Silla unifies the Korean Peninsula

    Allied with Tang China, Silla defeats Baekje and Goguryeo, unifying most of the Korean Peninsula for the first time.

    WarPolitics· South Korea, North Korea
  8. 690 – 705★★★★★

    Wu Zetian proclaims herself emperor

    Wu Zetian founds her own Zhou dynasty, becoming the only officially recognised female emperor in Chinese history.

    Politics· China

8th century

  1. 701★★★★★

    Birth of Li Bai

    Li Bai, the 'Immortal Poet' and one of the greatest poets of the Tang dynasty, is born.

    BirthArtCulture· China
  3. 712★★★★★

    Kojiki compiled

    The Kojiki, Japan's oldest surviving chronicle, is presented to the imperial court.

    CultureReligion· Japan
  4. 722★★★★★

    Mai Thúc Loan's uprising

    Mai Thúc Loan rebels against Tang rule in Hoan Châu and proclaims himself emperor before the revolt is suppressed.

    War· Vietnam, China
  5. 755 – 763★★★★★

    An Lushan Rebellion

    The revolt of An Lushan and Shi Siming causes massive loss of life and permanently weakens the Tang dynasty.

    War· China
  6. 794★★★★★

    Capital moved to Heian-kyō (Kyoto)

    Emperor Kanmu moves the capital to Heian-kyō, beginning the Heian period, a golden age of Japanese court culture.

    PoliticsCulture· Japan

9th century

  1. 868★★★★★

    The Diamond Sutra is printed

    A copy of the Diamond Sutra found at Dunhuang is the oldest surviving dated printed book in the world.

    TechnologyReligionCulture· 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. 918★★★★★

    Wang Geon founds Goryeo

    Wang Geon (King Taejo) founds the Goryeo dynasty, from which the name 'Korea' derives.

    DynastyPolitics· South Korea, North Korea
  3. 938★★★★★

    Battle of Bạch Đằng (938)

    Ngô Quyền defeats the Southern Han fleet on the Bạch Đằng River using hidden stakes, ending a millennium of Chinese rule.

    War· Vietnam, China
  4. 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
  5. 981★★★★★

    Lê Hoàn repels the Song invasion

    Forces of Đại Cồ Việt under Lê Hoàn defeat a Song dynasty invasion, including an engagement on the Bạch Đằng River.

    War· Vietnam, China

11th century

  1. c. 1010★★★★★

    The Tale of Genji written

    Court lady Murasaki Shikibu writes The Tale of Genji, often considered one of the world's first novels.

    ArtCulture· Japan
  2. c. 1040★★★★★

    Bi Sheng invents movable type

    The artisan Bi Sheng creates movable type from fired clay, the earliest known movable-type printing.

    Technology· China
  5. 1077★★★★★

    Battle of Như Nguyệt River

    Lý Thường Kiệt halts the Song invasion at the Như Nguyệt (Cầu) River; tradition links the poem "Nam quốc sơn hà" to the battle.

    War· Vietnam, 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
  2. 1185★★★★★

    Battle of Dan-no-ura

    The decisive naval battle of the Genpei War, in which the Minamoto clan destroys the Taira.

    War· Japan
  3. 1192★★★★★

    Minamoto no Yoritomo becomes shōgun

    Minamoto no Yoritomo is appointed shōgun, consolidating the Kamakura shogunate, Japan's first warrior government.

    PoliticsDynasty· Japan

13th century

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