← Civilizations
1600 BCE – 220 CE
Ancient China
Dynasties that gave the world paper, the compass, gunpowder, and lasting philosophy.
Timeline
c. 1200 BCE
Shang oracle bones
Early Chinese writing appears on bones used for divination.
c. 500 BCE
Teachings of Confucius
Confucius shapes Chinese thought on ethics and governance.
c. 220 BCE
Great Wall unified
Qin Shi Huang links earlier walls into a great frontier.