Chinese Chronology

1523 - 1027 B.C.

Shang dynasty (according to Bamboo Annals)

1027 - 721 B.C.

Western Chou dynasty

770 - 256 B.C.

Eastern Chou dynasty

551 - 479 B.C.

Traditional dates of Confucius

c. 500 B.C.

Beginning of the Iron Age in China

403 - 221 B.C.

Age of the Warring States

223 B.C.

Ch'in annihilates Ch'u

221 - 207 B.C.

Ch'in dynasty

reprinted from The Columbia History of the World, 1972, published by Harper & Row, edited by John A. Garraty & Peter Gay