This is a timeline of Chinese history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in China and its dynasties. To read about the background to these events, see History of China. See also the list of Chinese monarchs, Chinese emperors family tree, dynasties of China and years in China. Dates prior to 841 BC, the beginning of the Gonghe Regency, are provisional and subject to dispute. Prehistory / Millennia: 3rd BC ·2nd BC –1st BC ·1st–2nd·3rd·See also·Further reading·External links

Prehistoric China

Antiquity

22nd century BC

21st century BC

Centuries: 20th BC ·19th BC ·18th BC ·17th BC ·16th BC ·15th BC ·14th BC ·13th BC ·12th BC ·11th BC ·10th BC ·9th BC ·8th BC ·7th BC ·6th BC ·5th BC ·4th BC ·3rd BC ·2nd BC ·1st BC

20th century BC

19th century BC

18th century BC

17th century BC

16th century BC

15th century BC

13th century BC

12th century BC

11th century BC

10th century BC

9th century BC

8th century BC

7th century BC

6th century BC

5th century BC

4th century BC

3rd century BC

2nd century BC

1st century BC

Centuries: 1st·2nd·3rd·4th·5th·6th·7th·8th·9th·10th·11th·12th·13th·14th·15th·16th·17th·18th·19th·20th

1st century

2nd century

3rd century

4th century

5th century

6th century

7th century

8th century

9th century

10th century

11th century

12th century

13th century

14th century

15th century

16th century

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

Timeline of Chinese dynasties