Table 2.
Time periods and dynasties in China
| Neolithic (7000 BCE-2000 BCE) | |||
|
| |||
| Formation of Early States: Erlitou and Erligang (1900/1800 BCE -1250 BCE) | |||
|
| |||
| Shang dynasty (c. 1766/1600/1556 BCE - c.1122/1046 BCE)a | |||
|
| |||
| Zhou dynasty | Western Zhou | 11th century BCE-771 BCE | |
| Eastern Zhou | Spring and Autumn | c.770/771 BCE -c.475/476 BCE/403 BCE | |
| Warring States | 5th century BCE-221 BCE | ||
|
| |||
| Qin dynasty | 221 BCE-207/206 BCE | ||
|
| |||
| Han dynasty | Western/Former Han | 206/202 BCE-CE 9 | |
| Xin dynasty | CE 9-CE 23 | ||
| Eastern/Later Han | CE 25-CE 220 | ||
|
| |||
| Three Kingdoms | CE 220-CE 280 | ||
|
| |||
| Jin dynasty | Western Jin (CE 265/266-CE 316) | CE 265/266-CE 420 | |
| Eastern Jin (CE 317-CE 420) | Sixteen Kingdoms (CE 304-CE 439) | ||
|
| |||
| Northern and Southern dynasties | CE 420-CE 589 | ||
|
| |||
| Sui dynasty | CE 581-CE 618 | ||
|
| |||
| Tang dynasties | CE 618-CE 907 | ||
|
| |||
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms | Liao dynasty (CE 907/916-CE 1125 ) | CE 907-CE 960/979 | |
|
| |||
| Song dynasty | Northern Song (CE 960-CE 1127) | Western Xia (CE 1038-CE 1227) | CE 960-CE 1279 |
| Southern Song (CE 1127-CE 1279) | Jin dynasty (CE 1115-CE1234) | ||
|
| |||
| Yuan dynasty | CE 1271-CE 1368 | ||
|
| |||
| Ming dynasty | CE 1368-CE 1644 | ||
|
| |||
| Qing dynasty | CE 1644-CE 1911/1912 | ||
a
According to the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project, the Shang dynasty was dated from c.1600 to c.1046 BCE. However, the chronology has been disputed by many scholars.