Periods of Chinese History

The following lists the traditional periodization of Chinese history.

Pre-Historic Period

• Yangshao culture (Banpo) - c. 5000-3000 BCE
• Longshan culture - c. 3000-2200 BCE

Legendary Period & The Three Dynasties

• Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors
• Xia Dynasty - c. 2200-1750 BCE
• Shang Dynasty - c. 1750-1100 BCE
• Zhou Dynasty - c. 1100-256 BCE
• Spring and Autumn Period - 771-450 BCE
• Warring States Period - 450-220 BCE

Imperial China

• Qin Dynasty - 221-206 BCE
• Han Dynasty - 206 BCE - 220 CE
• Six Dynasties Period - 220-589
  • Three Kingdoms Period - 220-280
  • Western Jin - 265-317
  • Eastern Jin - 317-420
  • Northern and Southern Dynasties - 420-589
• Sui Dynasty - 581-618
• Tang Dynasty - 618-907
• Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period - 907-960
• Song Dynasty - 960-1279
  • Northern Song Dynasty - 907-1127
  • Southern Song Dynasty - 1127-1279
• Yuan Dynasty - 1279-1368
• Ming Dynasty - 1368-1644
• Qing Dynasty - 1644-1911

Modern China

• Republican China - 1911-1949 (to present on Taiwan)
• Communist China - 1949-present