Period |
Date |
Inventions and Developments |
Xia |
c.1994-1523 B.C. |
Invention of agriculture, writing, and flood control |
Shang-Yin |
c.1523-1028 B.C. |
The I Ching |
Western Zhou |
1027-722 B.C. |
Establishment of feudalism |
Spring and Autumn Period |
722-481 B.C. |
The thousand schools of philosophy |
Warring States Period |
481-221 B.C. |
Chopsticks and crossbows |
Qin |
221-207 B.C. |
Unification of China under central authority |
Former Han |
202 B.C.-A.D. 9 |
Expansion into Central Asia |
Xin |
9-23 |
Fiduciary coinage |
Later Han |
25-220 |
Paper and magnetic compass |
Three Kingdoms Period |
220-265 |
-- |
The Division into North and South |
265-589 |
Golden age of Buddhism |
Sui |
590-618 |
Construction of the Great Canal |
Tang |
618-907 |
Expansionism, universal civil service examinations, frequent foreign relations |
Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms Period |
907-960 |
|
Song |
960-1279 |
Gunpowder, paper money, and foot-binding |
Yuan |
1279-1368 |
Mongol invasion |
Ming |
1368-1644 |
Ocean exploration |
Qing |
1644-1911 |