China

Xia dynasty

2070-1600bc

Shang dynasty

1570-1045bc

Zhou dynasty

1045-256bc

End of western zhou, beginning of eastern zhou, spring and autumn period

771bc

Confucius is born

551bc

Sun tzu is born

544bc

Cast iron and iron plough invented

500bc

End of spring and autumn period

481bc

Warring states period

403-221bc

1st use of crossbow

342bc

Qin dynasty

221-206bc

Qin shi huangdi 1st emperor of china, connects existing walls and great wall of china is built

221bc

Chinese writing system becomes standardized

220bc

Terra cotta army is buried with emperor qin

210bc

Umbrella is invented

210bc

Han dynasty

206bc-220ad

Gaozu establishes chinese civil service to help run government

207bc

Emperor wu defines the taichu calendar

104bc

Xin dynasty overthrows han dynasty

8-22ad

Size of chinese empire ~60million

2ad

Paper invented by cai lun

105ad

Battle of red cliffs

208

Six dynasties

222-581

Buddhism introduced

250

Sui dynasty

589-618

Grand canal is completed

609

Tang dynasty

618-907

Wood block printing 1st used to print book of diamond sutra

868

907-960

Five dynasties

Song dynasty

960-1279

Moveable type of printing is invented

1041

1st formula for gunpowder

1044

1st description of magnetic compass

1088

Genghis khan unites mongol tribes

1200

Marco polo begins travels to china

1271

Yuan dynasty

1279-1368

Ming dynasty

1368-1644

Explorer zheng he begins his 1st journey to india and africa

Beginning of construction of forbidden city

1405

Beijing becomes capital of chinese empire

1420

Portuguese traders 1st arrive

1517

Qing dynasty

1644-1912

Xinhai revolution, qing dynasty ends

1912