In 221 B.C., Qin Shihuang established China's first centralized autocracy, the Qin Dynasty, thereby ushering Chinese history into feudalism, which endured in a succession of dynasties until the Opium War of 1840.
The Bourgeois Democratic Revolution of 1911 led by Sun Yat-sen toppled the rule of the Qing Dynasty, putting an end to more than 2,000 years of feudal monarchical system.
The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1 st , 1949. Today, China is implementing reform and open polices, and has established a socialist market economy.
Brief Chinese Chronology |
| Xia Dynasty |
21st century BC-16th century BC |
| Shang Dynasty |
16th century BC-1066 BC |
| Zhou Dynasty: |
Western Zhou |
1066 BC-771 BC |
| |
Eastern Zhou |
770 BC-476 BC |
| |
Spring and Autumn |
770 BC-221 BC |
| Qin Dynasty |
221 BC-206 BC |
| Han Dynasty: |
Western Han Dynasty |
206 BC-23 AD |
| |
Eastern Han Dynasty |
25-220 |
| The Three Kingdoms: |
Wei |
220-265 |
| |
Shu Han |
221-263 |
| |
Wu |
222-280 |
| Western Jin |
265-316 |
| Eastern Jin |
317-420 |
| Southern and Northern Dynasty: |
|
| |
Southern Dynasty |
420-589 |
| |
Northern Dynasty |
386-581 |
| Sui Dynasty |
581-618 |
| Tang Dynasty |
618-907 |
| The Five Dynasties |
907-960 |
| Sung Dynasty: |
Northern Sung |
960-1127 |
| |
Southern Sung |
1127-1279 |
| Liao Dynasty |
907-1125 |
| Western Xia Dynasty |
1032-1227 |
| Jin Dynasty |
1115-1234 |
| Yuan Dynasty |
1271-1368 |
| Ming Dynasty |
1368-1644 |
| Qing Dynasty |
1644-1911 |
| Republic of China (Guo Ming Dang) |
1912-1949 |
| The People's Republic of China |
1949-the present |