Major Chinese Dynasties and Periods C. 2205 BCE-907 CE

2.13 EARLY CIVILIZATIONS EARLY CIVILIZATIONS

Major Chinese Dynasties and Periods c. 2205 BCE-907 CE

. 0 1000 km Greatest extent 0 ofterritory ~ ~ 0 1000 miles

Pacific Pacific Ocean Ocean

Hsia Shang c. 2205-1766 BCE c. 1766-1122 BCE

Pacific Pacific Ocean Ocean

Chou Ch'in . c. 1122-256BCE 256-206 BCE

Pacific Pacific Ocean Ocean Three Kingdoms Han and Six Dynasties 202 BCE-220CE 220-589 CE

Pacific Pacific Ocean Ocean

Sui Tang . 581-618 CE 618-907 CE

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Hsia, Shang, & Chou Dynasties in China c. 2205*-256 BeE

DYNASTIES/PERIODS BC EVENTS c. 2205-1766* BCE 2250 c. 2205* BCE Legendary king Yu founds Hsia dynasty, . D Hsia supposedly the first culturally "Chinese" dynasty, and rules to 2197 " c. 1766-1122* BCE c. 1766* Last Hsia king Chieh, tyrant hated by his Shang 2150 . people, overthrown by Tang who establishes Shang ft c. 1122*-771 BCE dynasty . Western (early)Chou 2050 c. 1200 Earliest written script preserved on tortoiseshells and bones, known as tortoiseshell 771-256 BCE inscriptions or "oracle bones," used for religious rites. Eastern (later) Chou Gold, copper, tin, and lead in use, and bronze smelting 1 1950 and casting at advanced stage; silkworms raised and ft 722-481 BCE silk woven into cloth; horse-drawn chariots developed Ch'un Ch'iu (Spring and Fall) . c. 1122* Last Shang king Chou Hsin, ruthless tyrant period 1850 hated by his people, defeated in battle by King Wu of Chou. Western (early) Chou dynasty established and ft 403-221 BCE rules over confederacy of Chinese states. During " Warring States period 1750 period of rule (to 771 BCE),Western Chou dynasty increasingly devolves power to vassal lords of semi- independent states 1650 c. 878-828* Reign of Western Chou king Li. Decline of Western Chou begins 841* First completely reliable date in Chinese history. 1550 Dates of "orthodox" Chinese chronology and The Bamboo Annals converge 776 Earliest observation of solar eclipse is recorded in 1450 Shi Ching (Classic of Poetry) 771 Last Western Chou king Yu killed and Chou capital of Chou Tsung sacked by nomads. Eastern 1350 (later) Chou dynasty established by King P'ing at Lo-i, near what is now Loyang. Eastern Chou dynasty virtually powerless with merely nominal rule over rival 1250 princes of vassal states . 722-481 Ch'un Ch'iu (Spring and Fall) period: time documented in historical Spring and Fall Annals of 1150 Chou vassal state of Lu, from which period takes its name. Loose confederacy exists between states to pro- tect Chinese peoples from invading nomads. Chief 1050 states are Chin, Ch'i, Ch'in, Ch'u, Lu, Sung, and Yen c. 685 Emergence of five most powerful states (Chin, Ch'i, Ch'in, Ch'u, and Sung), whose lords each, in turn, 950 command confederacy as overlords 611 The Spring and Fall Annals record passage of Halley's comet 850 500-200 Confucian, Taoist, Moist, Legalist, and other schools of philosophy flourish 500-200 Iron-smelting technology makes great progress; iron tools widely used 750 A Shang tortoiseshell oracle showing 453 Powerful state of Chin is carved up by three rival early Chinese writing.These were used noble families into states of Chao, Han, and Wei (''three for divination from around 1200 BCE Chin"). Weakening of this former state allows its neigh- 650 bor, Ch'in, to grow even more powerful 403 Imperial house of Eastern Chou recognizes three new states of Chao, Han, and Wei: Warring States 550 period begins (continues to 221 BCE)as rival states of ''three Chin," Ch'in, Ch'u, Ch'i, and Yen struggle for overlordship 450 307 Cavalry of archers begins to replace horse-drawn war chariots (in state of Chao) * Two sources are generally used to date the legendary Hsia, Shang, and early Chou dynas- 256 Ch'in emerges as most powerful of Warring States. ties: The Bamboo Annals and the "orthodox" Ch'in kills last Chou king Nan and exterminates Chinese historical chronology. The dates of the Eastern Chou dynasty. two sources differ greatly until the year 841 BC, ~O when they converge. Those given here belong I . to the "orthodox" chronology. 250

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