North Bethesda School

Shang Dynasty

Qin Dynasty

Tang Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

Zhou Dynasty

Han Dynasty

Song Dynasty

Qing Dynasty

 Shang Dynasty (pronounced shang with short a vowel sound)
Shang Dynasty
Shang Dynasty (China Knowledge)

Belief in oracle bones & predicting future. Invention of bronze took place during this dynasty.
 

1765 - 1122
BCE


Capital
Yin

 Zhou Dynasty (pronounced joe)


Zhou Empire
The Zhou Dynasty (China Knowledge)

Key dynasty when many great Chinese philosophers and political thinkers lived. During the Eastern Zhou, One Hundred Schools of thought--origins of Confucianism and Daoism
 

 Western  Zhou
(1122-771 BCE) Capital
 Xi'an (Hao)
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn Period 
(770 -476
BCE)
Capital
Luoyang
(Luo)
Warring States
Period (476  -      221 BCE)
 

 Qin Dynasty (pronounced chin)

Xi'an and Terra Cotta Warriors
Construction of the Great Wall
Qin Dynasty (China Knowledge)
The Legalists

Construction of Great Wall began.  

China united under an Emperor for the first time.  

Legalism as a philosophy that focuses on harsh punishments and a strong centralized government.

221 BCE - 207 BCE  

Capital
Xi'an
(Xianyang)

 Han Dynasty (pronounced hahn)

The Invention of Paper
Secrets of the Han Wall (scroll down the page to find)
The Silk Road
Han Empire   

China's first great dynasty. Adopted Confucianism to guide the governing of the country. Expanded trade routes resulting in the opening of the Silk Road.
Great Wall
completed.
 

Western Han
(206 BCE -
9 CE)
Capital  Xi'an
(Chang'an)Eastern Han
(25 CE - 220 CE)
 

Captial
Luoyang 

 Tang Dynasty (pronounced tahng with short a vowel sound)
The Invention of Block Printing
Tang Dynasty (China Knowledge)

One of most glorious periods in Chinese history for art & literature, Rise of Buddhism. Empire expands from Vietnam to Korea to Central Asia. Completed Grand Canal, connecting large cities.

618 - 907CE

Xi'an
(Chang'an)

 Song Dynasty (pronounced Suhng)  

Song Dynasty
The Invention of Movable Print
Song Dynasty (China Knowledge)
Northern Song Dynasty

Weak empire but with great technological improvements. Metalworking, mathematics and astronomy were advanced. Gunpowder invented. Most of empire will be lost & China's capital south of Yangtze River for the first time.

Northern Song
(960 - 1127 CE)  

Capital
Kaifeng
Southern Song
(1127 - 1279 CE)
Capital
Hangzhou

 Ming Dynasty
Secrets of the Ming Wall (scroll down the page to find)
Ming China (China Knowledge)
  

Forbidden City and the Great Wall are key symbols of Ming power.  

Zheng He's great voyages reach Africa.

1368-1644
   

Capital
Nanjing
Beijing

1368 -1544
CE

 Qing Dynasty (pronounced ching)

• Qing dynasty - Britannica 

Last Dynasty. Non-Chinese Dynasty whose emperors were Manchus (from Manchuria). Powerful trading companies from America and Europe took control of China's political and economic systems.

1644 - 1911CE  

 



Capital
Beijing