The history of China and its dynasties contain many important legal and territorial changes and political events.

Dates prior to 841 BC, the beginning of the Gonghe Regency, are provisional and subject to dispute.

Prehistory 80,000 BC H. sapiens appears in modern Dao County, Hunan. 20,000 BC Pottery was used in Xianren Cave.Xiaohong, et al. (2002). 7600 BC The Zengpiyan culture appeared. Pigs were first domesticated in China.Huang et al. (2002). 7500 BC The Pengtoushan culture appeared. Rice was first domesticated in China. 7000 BC The Peiligang culture appeared. 6600 BC The Jiahu symbols were first used at Jiahu. 6500 BC The Cishan culture appeared. 6000 BC Dogs were first domesticated in China. 4000 BC Symbols were carved into pottery at Banpo. 3630 BC Silk processing was invented by the Yangshao culture. 3rd millennium BC Contents: AntiquityCenturies: 22nd BC21st BC

Antiquity

Year Date Event 2570 BC Silk was produced by the Liangzhu culture. 2500 BC Battle of Banquan: The forces of the divine farmer Shennong were repelled by a force of tribes allied under the Yellow Emperor. Battle of Zhuolu: A combined army of tribes under the Yellow Emperor defeated Hmong invasion at Zhuolo. 2366 BC Zhi became king.

22nd century BC Year Date Event 2200 BC Great Flood: Yu the Great completed a drainage system which ended the periodic and destructive flooding of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. (Reliable Archaeological discoveries depict that it happened around 1920BC.) The Nine Tripod Cauldrons were forged from metal given in tribute to Yu by the Nine Provinces. 2117 BC 12 May Tai Kang became king of the Xia dynasty.

21st century BC Year Date Event 2075 BC Xiang of Xia became king of the Xia dynasty. 2047 BC Xiang was murdered and displaced as king on the orders of the warlord Han Zhuo. His pregnant wife fled the capital Shangqiu. Xiang's wife gave birth to a son, Shao Kang. 2007 BC The people of Shangqiu welcomed an army loyal to Shao into the city. Han committed suicide.

2nd–1st millennia BC

19th century BC Year Date Event 1831 BC Bu abdicated in favor of his younger brother Jiong of Xia. 1831 BC Mount Tai earthquake: An earthquake occurred at Mount Tai. 1810 BC Jiong was succeeded by his son Jin of Xia.

18th century BC Year Date Event 1789 BC Jin was succeeded by his cousin, Bu's son Kong Jia. 1758 BC Kong was succeeded by his son Gao of Xia. 1747 BC Gao was succeeded by his son Fa of Xia. 1728 BC Fa was succeeded by his son Jie of Xia.

17th century BC Year Date Event 1675 BC Jie was succeeded by Tang of Shang, marking the beginning of the Shang dynasty.

16th century BC

Year Date Event 1600 BC Battle of Mingtiao: the Shang clan (later Shang dynasty) overthrow the corrupt and last emperor of the Xia dynasty

15th century BC Year Date Event 1500 BC The Erligang culture appeared.

13th century BC Year Date Event 1290 BC Pan Geng became king of the Shang dynasty. The capital of the Shang dynasty was moved from Yan to Yin. 1250 BC Wu Ding became king of the Shang dynasty. Oracle bones were first used for divination; evidence of oracle bone script first appears.

12th century BC Year Date Event 1200 BC Wu's wife, the general and high priestess Fu Hao, died and was buried at the tomb of Fu Hao in Yinxu. 1192 BC Wu died. He was succeeded by his son Zu Geng of Shang. 1170 BC Geng Ding became king of the Shang dynasty. 1147 BC Geng was succeeded by his son Wu Yi of Shang. 1112 BC Wu was killed by lightning while out hunting. He was succeeded by his son Wen Ding. 1101 BC Wen was succeeded by his son Di Yi.

11th century BC Year Date Event 1076 BC Di died. 1075 BC Di was succeeded as king of the Shang dynasty by his son King Zhou of Shang. 1050 BC King Wen of Zhou died. 1047 BC Zhou took Daji as his concubine. 1046 BC Battle of Muye: The forces of the predynastic Zhou, led by King Wu of Zhou and aided by Shang dynasty defectors, dealt a bloody defeat to Shang forces at Muye, near Yinxu. Zhou committed suicide by burning himself with his jewels on the Deer Terrace Pavilion. 1043 BC Wu died. 1042 BC Wu was succeeded by his son King Cheng of Zhou. 1034 BC Chinese bronze inscriptions came into use. 1021 BC Cheng died. 1020 BC Cheng was succeeded by his son King Kang of Zhou.

10th century BC Year Date Event 1000 BC The Classic of Poetry was compiled. 996 BC Kang died. 976 BC King Mu of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 964 BC Mu led an unsuccessful expedition against the Quanrong. 922 BC Mu died. He was succeeded by his son King Gong of Zhou.

9th century BC Year Date Event 900 BC Gong died. 899 BC Gong's son Ji Jian, King Yi of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 892 BC Ji Jian died. 891 BC Ji Jian's uncle, Mu's son King Xiao of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 886 BC Xiao died. 885 BC Ji Jian's son Ji Xie, King Yi of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 878 BC Ji Xie died. 877 BC Ji Xie's son King Li of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 842 BC A popular revolt forced Li into exile near Linfen. 841 BC The Gonghe Regency came into power. 828 BC Li died. 827 BC Li's son King Xuan of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.

8th century BC Year Date Event 782 BC Xuan died. 781 BC Xuan's son King You of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 779 BC You took Bao Si as his concubine. 771 BC The Marquess of Shen, whose daughter had been replaced by Bao Si as queen, led an attack on Haojing in alliance with the Quanrong. You and Bao's son Bofu were killed. 770 BC You's son King Ping of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. Ping moved the Zhou capital east to Luoyang. 720 BC Ping died. 719 BC Ping's grandson King Huan of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 707 BC Battle of Xuge: Huan, in coalition with the Zhou vassal states Chen, Cai and Wey, led a punitive expedition against Zheng. The coalition was defeated and Huan was wounded.

7th century BC Year Date Event 697 BC 11 may Huan died. 696 BC Huan's son King Zhuang of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 685 BC Duke Huan of Qi became duke of Qi. 682 BC Zhuang died. 681 BC Zhuang's son King Xi of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 677 BC Xi died. 676 BC Xi's son King Hui of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 652 BC Hui died. 645 BC The Qi chancellor Guan Zhong died. 632 BC Battle of Chengpu: Jin and its allies decisively defeated a coalition led by Chu. 630 BC Sunshu Ao was born. 619 BC Xiang died. 618 BC Xiang's son King Qing of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 613 BC Qing died. 612 BC Qing's son King Kuang of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 607 BC Kuang died. 606 BC Kuang's brother King Ding of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.

6th century BC Year Date Event 600 BC Knife money came into use. 595 BC Battle of Bi: Chu decisively defeated Jin at Bi, near modern Xingyang. 586 BC Ding died. 585 BC Ding's son King Jian of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 575 BC Battle of Yanling: A numerically superior Chu force was defeated by Jin in modern Yanling County. King Gong of Chu was injured. 572 BC Jian died. 571 BC Jian's son King Ling of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 551 BC Confucius was born. 548 BC The earliest surviving reference to Go appeared. 545 BC Ling died. 544 BC Ling's son Ji Gui, King Jing of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. The Chinese people were first divided into a caste system of four occupations. 543 BC The Zheng prime minister Zichan established the state's first written civil code. 520 BC Ji Gui died. He was succeeded by his son King Dao of Zhou. Dao was murdered by his brother. 519 BC Dao's brother Ji Gai, King Jing of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 515 BC The Wu king Liao was killed by the assassin Zhuan Zhu. 514 BC King Helü of Wu became king of Wu. 506 BC Battle of Boju: Wu decisively defeated a numerically superior Chu force at Boju.

5th century BC Year Date Event 500 BC Cast iron was first invented in China. 486 BC The Wu king King Fuchai of Wu ordered the building of the Han Canal. 484 BC Wu Zixu died. 482 BC The Yue king King Goujian of Yue captured the Wu capital in a surprise assault. 479 BC The generally agreed upon date of Confucius' death. 477 BC Ji Gai died. 475 BC Ji Gai's son King Yuan of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 473 BC Wu was annexed by Yue. 470 BC Mozi was born. 469 BC Yuan died.518 BC Yuan's son King Zhending of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 465 BC Goujian died. 441 BC Zhending died. He was succeeded by his son King Ai of Zhou. Ai was murdered and succeeded as king by his younger brother King Si of Zhou. Si was murdered by his brother King Kao of Zhou. 440 BC Kao became king of the Zhou dynasty. 432 BC The tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng was constructed. 426 BC Kao died. 425 BC Kao's son King Weilie of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 403 BC Partition of Jin: Weilie recognized the Jin nobles Marquess Wen of Wei, Marquess Lie of Zhao and Marquess Jing of Han as marquesses, granting de jure independence from Jin to the states of Wei, Zhao and Han. 402 BC Weilie died. 401 BC Weilie's son King An of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty.

4th century BC Year Date Event 400 BC Gan De was born. Shi Shen was born. The earliest surviving Chinese maps appeared. The first Chinese star catalogue was compiled. 389 BC The Zuo Zhuan was published. 386 BC The city of Handan was founded to serve as the Zhao capital. 381 BC The Chu prime minister Wu Qi was murdered by nobles at the funeral of its king King Dao of Chu. 376 BC An died. 375 BC An's son King Lie of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. Zheng was annexed by Han. 370 BC Zhuang Zhou was born. 369 BC Lie died. 368 BC Lie's brother King Xian of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 361 BC Duke Xiao of Qin became duke of Qin. 356 BC Xiao's adviser Shang Yang implemented a legal code in Qin based on the Canon of Laws which established punishment for complicity in a crime, established a system of military ranks, and implemented policies encouraging the cultivation of unsettled land. 354 BC Battle of Guiling: Wei laid siege to the Zhao capital Handan. 353 BC Battle of Guiling: The Wei army fled Handan in response to reports of a Qi attack on their capital Daliang and were defeated by Qi forces at Guiling, in modern Changyuan County. 342 BC Battle of Maling: Qi dealt Wei a bloody defeat. The crossbow was first used in China. 338 BC Xiao died. He was succeeded by his son King Huiwen of Qin. Shang and his family were executed by dismemberment on charges of treason. 321 BC Xian died. 320 BC Xian's son King Shenjing of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 319 BC The Confucian Mencius became a Qi official. 316 BC Sun Bin died. Shu was conquered and annexed by Qin. Ba was conquered and annexed by Qin. 315 BC Shenjing died. 314 BC Shenjing's son King Nan of Zhou became king of the Zhou dynasty. 311 BC Huiwen died. 310 BC Huiwen's son King Wu of Qin became king of Qin. Xun Kuang was born. 307 BC The Zhou king King Wuling of Zhao ordered his cavalry to begin wearing clothes fashioned after those of the Donghu and Xiongnu peoples. Wu died. 306 BC Wu's brother King Zhaoxiang of Qin became king of Qin. 305 BC Zou Yan was born. The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips were written.

3rd century BC