Question: What dynasty united the kingdoms of China?

Dynasties in Chinese history





















































































 History of ChinaANCIENTNeolithic c. 8500 – c. 2070 BCXia c. 2070 – c. 1600 BCShang c. 1600 – c. 1046 BCZhou c. 1046 – 256 BCWestern ZhouEastern ZhouSpring and AutumnWarring StatesIMPERIALQin 221–207 BCHan 202 BC – 220 AD Western Han Xin Eastern HanThree Kingdoms 220–280 Wei, Shu and WuJin 266–420 Western Jin Eastern JinSixteen KingdomsNorthern and Southern dynasties
 420–589Sui 581–618Tang 618–907 (Wu Zhou 690–705)Five Dynasties and
Ten Kingdoms
 907–979Liao 916–1125Song 960–1279 Northern SongWestern Xia Southern SongJinYuan 1271–1368Ming 1368–1644Qing 1636–1912MODERNRepublic of China 1912–1949People's Republic of China 1949–presentRelated articles
Chinese historiography
Timeline of Chinese history
Dynasties in Chinese history
Linguistic history
Art history
Economic history
Education history
Science and technology history
Legal history
Media history
Military history
Naval history
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The following is a chronology of the dynasties in Chinese History since 2000 BC.
Background
One might incorrectly infer from viewing historical timelines that transitions between dynasties occur abruptly and smoothly. Rather, dynasties were often established before the complete overthrow of an existing reign, or continued for a time after they had been effectively defeated. For example, the conventional date 1645 marks the year in which the Qing dynasty armies overthrew the preceding Ming dynasty, according to the dynastic cycle of China. However, the Qing dynasty was established in 1636 (or even 1616, albeit under a different name), while the last Ming dynasty pretender was not deposed until 1663. This change of ruling houses was a messy and prolonged affair, and the Qing took almost twenty years to extend their control over the whole of China. It is therefore inaccurate to assume China changed suddenly and all at once in the year 1645.
In addition, China was divided for short periods of its history, with different regions being ruled by different groups. During such periods, there was not any single dynasty ruling a unified China. As a case in point, there is much dispute about times in and after the Western Zhou period. In the Chinese historiographical tradition, each new dynasty would write the history of the dynasty which preceded it. This cycle was disrupted, however, when the Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty in favor of a republic. Even an attempt by Republicans to draft the history of the Qing was disrupted by the Chinese Civil War, which resulted in the division of China into the People's Republic of China on mainland China and the Republic of China on Taiwan.[1]
Dynasties of China


See also


History of China
Conquest dynasties
Timeline of Chinese history
List of Chinese monarchs
List of recipients of tribute from China
List of tributaries of Imperial China
Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project
Dynastic cycle
Republic of China (1912-1949)
People's Republic of China
Yuan Shikai – claimed to be emperor of China from December 1915 to March 1916 as the Hongxian Emperor.

Citations

Sources

China Handbook Editorial Committee, China Handbook Series: History (trans., Dun J. Li), Beijing, 1982, 188–89; and Shao Chang Lee, "China Cultural Development" (wall chart), East Lansing, 1984.



Columbia University.