History of China

The history of China spans many thousands of years across a large geographical area. Each part of China has seen times of being together, falling apart, growing rich, and facing hard times. Chinese civilization began by the Yellow River or Huang He valley, and the Yangtze river area. These two rivers are the heart of the Chinese cultural sphere.

The Neolithic period saw towns and small states grow along the Yellow and Yangtze rivers. The oldest surviving written Chinese comes from about 1250 BC. These early writings were on oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty.

China was first united under one ruler, Qin Shi Huang, in 221 BC. He made rules about writing, weights, measures, and laws the same everywhere. The Chinese land grew largest during the Han dynasty. Confucianism became an important belief, and its core texts were put together.

In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen started the Republic of China. Later, after a struggle, Mao Zedong announced the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949. After Mao’s death, Deng Xiaoping led changes that opened China to the world, and China grew very fast as an economy.

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistory of China

Long ago, the land we now call China was home to early humans. Around 1.7 ^million years ago, a group known as Homo erectus lived in southern China. They used simple tools and lived near forests and lakes.

Later, around 120,000 years ago, modern humans, known as H. sapiens, appeared in China. During this time, people began to farm. They grew rice by the Yangtze River and millet near the Yellow River. They made pottery, built villages, and created early symbols that may have been the start of writing. This period, called the Neolithic Age, brought big changes as people learned to grow food and live together in larger groups.

Ancient China

See also: Outline of ancient China

Further information: Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

Early China was not simple. Sometimes different groups ruled at the same time. This shows that China was often split into many parts.

The first leaders were wise people like Yao, Shun, and Yu. These leaders chose each other to be the next ruler. Yao chose Shun, and Shun chose Yu. This began the Xia dynasty.

Main article: Xia dynasty

The Xia dynasty (around 2070 to 1600 BC) is the first of the early dynasties. Some people think it may be a story, but it is linked to the Erlitou site from 1900 to 1500 BC. Erlitou shows early use of bronze and an organized way of life.

Main article: Shang dynasty

Further information: Bronze Age § China, Chinese ritual bronzes, and Predynastic Shang

The Shang dynasty (around 1600 to 1046 BC) has strong evidence like special bones and metal objects. Important discoveries were made at Erligang and Yinxu near modern Zhengzhou and Anyang. At Anyang, the earliest Chinese writing was found on animal bones.

Main articles: Zhou dynasty and Western Zhou

Further information: Iron Age China and Predynastic Zhou

The Zhou dynasty lasted from 1046 BC to 256 BC, longer than any other dynasty. It began when King Wu defeated the Shang. The Zhou rulers used the Mandate of Heaven to show they were chosen to lead.

Main article: Spring and Autumn period

During the Spring and Autumn period (722 to 476 BC), the Zhou kings had less power. Many small groups fought each other. Some became very strong. This time was when famous thinkers like Laozi, Confucius, and Sun Tzu lived.

Main article: Warring States period

The Warring States period (476 to 221 BC) came next. Seven big groups fought for control. The state of Qin won. Under Ying Zheng, Qin brought all of China together and became its first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.

Imperial China

See also: Chinese Empire and Political systems of Imperial China

Early imperial China

Qin dynasty (221–206 BC)

Main article: Qin dynasty

Ying Zheng made China one big empire in 221 BC. He called himself Shi Huangdi, the "First Emperor." The empire had strong leaders and strict rules. They made weights, measures, and writing the same everywhere. They built roads and started building the Great Wall of China. But after Qin Shi Huang died, the dynasty ended and the Han dynasty began.

Han dynasty (206 BC – AD 220)

Main article: Han dynasty

Further information: History of the Han dynasty

The Han dynasty was a time of peace and growth. Emperors like Wu made the empire bigger and built trade routes like the Silk Road. Confucianism became important and shaped Chinese culture.

The Han dynasty had advances in art, science, and technology. They made new tools and built big cities. But later, problems like money issues and fights inside the empire caused it to end.

Xin dynasty

Main article: Xin dynasty

In AD 9, Wang Mang took power and started the Xin dynasty. He wanted to change things, but people did not like his ideas. Natural disasters made things worse. In AD 23, people overthrew Wang Mang and the Xin dynasty ended.

Eastern Han

Emperor Guangwu brought back the Han dynasty in AD 25 and moved the capital to Luoyang. This time saw new inventions like papermaking and better connections with faraway lands. But fights and attacks from other groups caused problems, and the dynasty weakened.

Six Dynasties

Three Kingdoms (AD 220–280)

Main article: Three Kingdoms

After the Han dynasty ended, China split into three parts: Wei, Shu, and Wu. This time, called the Three Kingdoms, had many wars and fighting. A famous book, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, tells stories from this period.

Jin dynasty (AD 266–420)

Main article: Jin dynasty (266–420))

Further information: History of the Jin dynasty (266–420)

The Jin dynasty tried to bring China together again but had inner fights and uprisings. Later, the empire split again, leading to the time of the Sixteen Kingdoms.

Sixteen Kingdoms (AD 304–439)

Northern China had many small states ruled by people who were not Han. This time had lots of war and trouble, and many Han Chinese moved south.

Northern and Southern dynasties (AD 420–589)

From the 5th to the 6th century, China was split between north and south. The south kept Han culture, while the north had new ideas from its rulers. Buddhism and Taoism became more popular.

Mid-imperial China

Sui dynasty (581–618)

Main article: Sui dynasty

The Sui dynasty brought China back together after many years of splitting. They built the Grand Canal to connect different parts of the empire and changed many things in government and society. But expensive wars and projects caused unrest, and the dynasty fell.

Tang dynasty (618–907)

Main article: Tang dynasty

See also: Wu Zhou

The Tang dynasty was a golden time for culture, trade, and new ideas. Chang'an, the capital, was one of the biggest cities in the world. The dynasty supported art, built temples, and expanded trade routes. Even though it had problems later, the Tang time is remembered for its poetry, art, and science.

Late imperial China

Song, Liao, Jin, and Western Xia dynasties (960–1279)

Main articles: Song dynasty, Liao dynasty, Western Xia, and [Jin dynasty (1115–1234)](/wiki/Jin_dynasty_(1115–1234)

Further information: History of the Song dynasty

See also: Dali Kingdom and Qara Khitai

In 960, the Song dynasty began and brought China back together. Even with threats from nearby empires, the Song time is known for its new technologies, culture, and economy. They made paper money and other inventions.

Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)

Main article: Yuan dynasty

Further information: History of the Yuan dynasty

See also: Mongol Empire and Northern Yuan

The Yuan dynasty was started by Kublai Khan of the Mongol Empire. The Mongols ruled all of China and linked it with Central Asia and Europe through trade. They brought new cultures, but their rule had problems and ended when a new dynasty took over.

Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

Main article: Ming dynasty

Further information: History of the Ming dynasty

See also: Southern Ming

The Ming dynasty brought peace after the Yuan dynasty ended. They built parts of the Great Wall that we still see today and sent voyages led by Zheng He to faraway lands. But later, invasions and problems inside the dynasty caused it to end.

Qing dynasty (1644–1912)

Main article: Qing dynasty

Further information: History of the Qing dynasty

See also: Later Jin (1616–1636), High Qing era, Century of humiliation, and Self-Strengthening Movement

The Qing dynasty, ruled by the Manchus, was the last imperial dynasty. They made China's borders bigger and had times of wealth. But they faced uprisings and pressure from Western countries, and the dynasty ended, leading to the Republic of China.

Modern period

Republic of China (since 1912)

Main articles: 1911 Revolution, History of the Republic of China, Republic of China (1912–1949), Beiyang government, and Nationalist government

See also: History of Taiwan, History of Taiwan (1945–present), and Retreat of the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan

The Republic of China started in Nanjing on March 12, 1912. Sun Yat-sen became its first president, but he gave power to Yuan Shikai. Elections were held, and the Kuomintang became the main political party.

After Yuan Shikai died, new leaders took over. In 1919, people protested against unfair treatment by other countries after World War I. This protest helped change the government's mind.

In the 1920s, Sun Yat-sen tried to bring the country together. After he died, Chiang Kai-shek took charge. During this time, Japan invaded parts of China.

People's Republic of China (since 1949)

Main articles: History of the People's Republic of China and China

See also: Proclamation of the People's Republic of China

In 1949, fighting between groups in China ended. One group, the CCP, took control of most of the country. Mao Zedong announced the new People's Republic of China.

The new government made many changes. In 1972, China's leaders met with the U.S. president. China also joined the United Nations that year.

After Mao Zedong died in 1976, Deng Xiaoping led the country into new ways of doing business. China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001.

Since 2017, some people around the world have disagreed with how China treats some of its people. In 2019, a sickness called COVID-19 started in Wuhan, and it spread around the world.