A building in China

History of China

China has a recorded history of nearly 4,000 years The Zhou Dynasty is the longest-lasting dynasty in Chinese history The first parts of the Great Wall were built as early as the 7th century BC Gunpowder was invented in China during the 11th century China was the first country to use paper money The Forbidden City in Beijing was the imperial palace for 24 emperors and boasts roughly 9,000 rooms In 1974, farmers discovered the buried army of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor, which consists of over 8,000 life-size, unique statues created to protect him in the afterlife
The Zhou introduced the crucial political ideology of the Mandate of Heaven Early Zhou kings practiced a feudal system The chaotic later years of the Eastern Zhou (specifically the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods) led to the "Hundred Schools of Thought." This era produced China's most influential philosophers, including Confucius (Confucianism) and Laozi Despite political instability, the era saw massive progress. Iron tools and weapons became common, cross-bows were invented, and large-scale irrigation projects began. Chinese writing also evolved into its near-modern form, and significant literature, such as the Book of Songs (Shijing), was compiled. the Zhou Dynasty lasted nearly eight centuries Chinese civilization can be traced back 40 centuries The Xia Dynasty (2070-1600 BCE) is traditionally considered the first, though evidence is partially legendary.
The Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) is the first to leave historical records Oracle bones, used for divination, are the oldest known records of Chinese writing The Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) is the longest-ruling dynasty The "Mandate of Heaven" was introduced, stating emperors ruled by divine right The "Warring States" period (475-221 BCE) was marked by political turmoil and cultural growth. Confucianism and Taoism were founded during the Zhou Dynasty Qin Shi Huang united China in 221 BCE, ending the warring states
Qin Shi Huang proclaimed himself the first emperor (Huangdi) The Qin Dynasty standardized weights, measures, and currency The Qin Dynasty also standardized the writing system The first version of the Great Wall was built during the Qin Dynasty The Terracotta Army was created to protect Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife The Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE) is considered a golden age. The majority ethnic group in China calls itself "Han" after this dynasty
The Silk Road trade route was formally opened during the Han Dynasty Paper was invented during the Han Dynasty, often credited to Cai Lun Buddhism began to enter China during the Han Dynasty The Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) is considered a peak of art and poetry. Empress Wu Zetian was the only female to officially rule as Emperor in Chinese history. The invention of woodblock printing occurred during the Tang Dynasty. Gunpowder was invented by Taoist alchemists during the Tang Dynasty.
The Song Dynasty was the first to use paper money. The compass was first used for navigation in the Song Dynasty. The tea trade expanded significantly during the Tang and Song dynasties Marco Polo visited China during the Yuan Dynasty. The Grand Canal was extended, linking the Yellow and Yangtze rivers The Tang Dynasty was known for its cosmopolitan culture and international trade. Tea was popularized as a health drink during the Tang period