| A | B |
|---|
| Shang dynasty | (c. 1600 BC–c. 1046 BC) Earliest confirmed Chinese dynasty, earliest known Chinese writing (oracle bone) |
| Zhou dynasty | (c. 1046 BC–256 BC) Longest lasting Chinese dynasty; the zenith of Chinese bronze-ware making; modernization of Chinese writing; characterized by decentralized "feudal" system |
| Warring States period | (475 BC-221 BC) Final era of Zhou dynasty culminating in the unification of China under Qin |
| Qin dynasty | (221 BC–206 BC) First dynasty of Imperial China; first unification of China under a central power, Terracotta Army and beginning of Great Wall |
| Han dynasty | (206 BC – 220 AD) A golden age in Chinese history, Confucianism becomes state religion, overall economic prosperity |
| Three Kingdoms | (AD 220–280) Wei, Shu, Hu; one of the bloodiest periods in Chinese (and world) history |
| Jin Dynasty | (265–420) Divided into Eastern and Western parts; Western part reunited China in 280, but fairly shortly thereafter fell into a succession crisis, civil war, and invasion by the "Five Barbarians" |
| Northern and Southern dynasties | (420–589) Though an age of civil war and political chaos, it was also a time of flourishing arts and culture, advancement in technology, and the spread of Mahayana Buddhism and Daoism |
| Sui dynasty | (581–618) Unification of all of China proper under Emperor Wen; sinicization of former nomadic ethnic minorities; Grand Canal |
| Tang dynasty | (618–907) Generally regarded as a high point in Chinese civilization, and a golden age of cosmopolitan culture; Wu Zetian (first and only Chinese empress regnant) |
| Song dynasty | (960–1279) First government in world history to issue banknotes or true paper money nationally and the first Chinese government to establish a permanent standing navy; first known use of gunpowder; first discernment of true north using a compass; conquered by the Mongols |
| Yuan dynasty | (1271–1368) The empire or ruling dynasty of China established by Kublai Khan, leader of the Mongolian Borjigin clan |
| Ming dynasty | (1368–1644) "One of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history"; last imperial dynasty in China ruled by ethnic Han Chinese; Forbidden city; restoration of Grand Canal; modernization of Great Wall; explorations of Zheng He |
| Qing dynasty | (1644–1912) The last imperial dynasty of China; formed the territorial base for the modern Chinese state; founded by the Jurchen Aisin Gioro clan in Manchuria; Taiping Rebellion; Dungan Revolt; Boxer Rebellion |
