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History of China

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Chinese written history goes back 4,000 years, but modern archaeological excavations show that Chinese origins are even more ancient. "Yuanmou” man discovered in Yuanmou in Yunnan Province lived approximately 1.7 million years ago. "Peking Man" from Zhoukoudian area near Beijing lived 600,000 years ago. Relics from the Neolithic age, 10,000 years ago, are found in many places around China. Areas nourished by the Yellow River in central China are cradles of Chinese civilization.

Timeline of Chinese History

A. Prehistory

B. Ancient Bronze Era
1. Shang Dynasty (1570 - 1045 BC)
2. Zhou Dynasty (1045 - 256 BC)

C. Early Imperial Era
1. Qin Unification (221 - 206)
2. Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD)
3. Period of Disunion (220 - 589)

D. Classic Imperial Era
1. Reunification under Sui Dynasty (581 - 618)
2. Tang Dynasty (618 - 907)
3. Song Dynasty (960 - 1279)

E. Later Imperial Era
1. Mongol Yuan Dynasty (1279 - 1368)
2. Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644)
3. Manchu Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911)

F. Modern China
1. Republic of China(1911-1949)
2. People's Republic(1949- )