The earliest men living in China can be traced back to 1.7 million years ago. After long evolving, the ancient hominid commenced to step into civilization society. Cultivating the main Chinese civilization for thousands of years, the Yellow River and The Yangtze River are seen as Mother Rivers by Chinese people, with the Yellow River also being hailed as “the cradle of Chinese civilization”.
A Brief Chinese Chronology
|
Era / Dynasty |
Reign |
|
The era of the Yuanmou hominid (scientific name: Homo erectus yuanmouensis) |
about 1.7 million years ago |
|
The era of the Lantian hominid (scientific name: Homo erectus lantianensis) |
about 0.8 million years ago |
|
The era of the Peking hominid (scientific name: Homo erectus pekinensis) |
about 0.2-0.7 million years ago |
|
The era of Shandingdong hominid (scientific name: Upper Cave Man) |
about 18,000 years ago |
|
The era of Hemudu Banpo Culture (Matriarchal Clan Commune) |
about 5000-7000 years ago |
|
The era of Dawenkou Culture (paternal Clan Commune) |
about 4000-5000 years ago |
|
The era of Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns |
about 4000 ago |
|
Xia Dynasty |
2070 BC – 1600 BC |
|
Shang Dynasty |
1600 BC – 1046 BC |
|
Western Zhou Dynasty |
1046 BC – 771 BC |
|
Eastern Zhou Dynasty (Spring and Autumn Period) |
770 BC – 476 BC |
|
Eastern Zhou Dynasty (Warring States Period) |
475 BC – 221 BC |
|
Qin Dynasty |
221 BC – 207 BC |
|
Western Han Dynasty |
206 BC – 24 AD |
|
Eastern Han Dynasty |
25 AD – 220 AD |
|
Three Kingdoms Period (Wei, Shu, Wu) |
220 AD – 265 AD |
|
Western Jin |
265 AD – 316 AD |
|
Eastern Jin |
317 AD – 420 AD |
|
The Northern and Southern Dynasties |
420 AD – 589 AD |
|
Sui Dynasty |
581 AD – 618 AD |
|
Tang Dynasty |
618 AD – 907 AD |
|
The Five Dynasties |
907 AD – 960 AD |
|
Northern Song Dynasty |
960 AD – 1127 AD |
|
Southern Song Dynasty |
1127 AD – 1279 AD |
|
Yuan Dynasty |
1271 AD – 1368 AD |
|
Ming Dynasty |
1368 AD – 1644 AD |
|
Qing Dynasty |
1644 AD – 1911 AD |
|
Republic of China |
1912 AD – 1949 AD |
|
People’s Republic of China (PRC) |
Since 1949 |
