Shang dynasty: c. 1600–c. 1050 B.C.

  Zhou dynasty: c. 1050–256 B.C.
        Spring and Autumn period: 770–476 B.C.
        Warring States period: 475–221 B.C.
        Confucius born: c. 550 B.C.
        Laozi traditionally believed to have lived
        in the sixth century B.C.

  Qin dynasty: 221–207 B.C.
        Construction of Great Wall: c. 214 B.C.

  Han dynasty: 206 B.C.–A.D. 220
        Introduction of Buddhism in China: first century A.D.

  Three Kingdoms: 220–280

  Jin dynasty: 265–420

  Northern and Southern dynasties: 386–589

  Sui dynasty: 581–618

  Tang dynasty: 618–906

  Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: 907–960

  Liao dynasty: 916–1125

  Song dynasty: 960–1279

  Jin dynasty: 1115–1234

  Yuan dynasty: 1260–1368

  Ming dynasty: 1368–1644

  Qing dynasty: 1644–1911