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Ancient Chinese Empires Facts & Worksheets

Ancient Chinese Empires produced some of the world's oldest existing civilization.

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Ancient China generated what is now the world’s oldest existing civilization. The term “China” is derived from the Sanskrit Cina (derived from the name of the Chinese Qin Dynasty, pronounced “Chin”), which was rendered as “Cin” by the Persians and appeared to have gained popularity through commerce along the Silk Road.

See the fact file below for more information on the Ancient Chinese Empires or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Ancient Chinese Empires worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PREHISTORIC CHINA

  • The Romans and Greeks knew the country as ‘Seres,’ which meant “the land from when silk is made.” The term “China” first appeared in literature in the west in Barbosa’s notebooks chronicling his journeys to the east in 1516 CE (though the Europeans had long known of China through trade via the Silk Road).
  • In the 13th century CE, Marco Polo, a renowned traveler, introduced China to Europe under the name “Cathay.” The name of the nation is “Zhongguo” in Mandarin Chinese, which means “center state” or “middle empire.” 
  • The land of China was inhabited by hominids before a recognized civilization began. Peking Man, whose fossilized skull was unearthed in the region of Beijing in 1927 CE, lived there between 700,000 and 300,000 years ago, 
  • Yuanmou Man, whose bones were discovered in Yuanmou in 1965 CE, lived in China 1.7 million years ago. These ancient individuals were able to create fire and shape stone tools, according to the evidence revealed by these findings.
  • The discovery of the Shu Ape, a monkey that lived in China during the Middle Eocene Epoch 4.5 to 4 million years ago and weighed just 100 to 150 grams, presented a significant challenge to the hypothesis that the human race originated in Africa. The Shu Ape fossil, which serves as a “missing link” in the evolutionary process, has genetic ties to higher and lower primates, making this challenge conceivable.
  • Between 4500 and 3750 BCE, people lived in Banpo, a Neolithic town with 45 homes with floors dug into the earth for added stability. The hamlet was surrounded by a trench that served as defense and drainage while aiding in the containment of domestic animals. Food was stored in subterranean man-made caverns. The layout of the hamlet and the objects found there (such as ceramics and tools) support the theory that it was built by a fairly sophisticated civilization.
  • The Yellow River Valley’s Henan province was home to several early villages and agricultural communities. It is often considered the Chinese “Cradle of Civilization,” with towns forming there in approximately 5000 BCE.
  • Archaeologists unearthed around 20 corpses, an altar, a square, pottery, and stone and jade utensils in the layer of deposits that buried the collapsed residence in 2001 CE, which was covered by a thick layer of Yellow River silt deposits. This was only one of several ancient towns in the region.

Ancient Dynasties

Xian Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BCE)

  • The first centralized government emerged from tiny farming settlements and villages, known as the Xia Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BCE). The dynasty was established by the fabled Yu the Great, who toiled tirelessly for 13 years to stop the Yellow River from overflowing, which frequently destroyed farmers’ harvests. It was claimed that he was so absorbed in his job that he did not return home once during that time. His commitment to his profession encouraged others to join him.
  • Following his successful management of the floods, Yu subdued the Sanmiao tribes, won Shun’s succession, and ruled until his passing. Yu created the hereditary system of succession and, as a result, the most well-known definition of the dynasty. While the peasantry, which supported the elite’s lifestyle, continued to be predominantly agricultural and resided in rural regions, the governing class and elite lived in urban clusters. 
  • After Yu died, his son Qi took over as emperor, and the family retained control until Jie, the final Xia monarch, was deposed by Tang, who then founded the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE).

Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1050 BCE)

  • Tang was from the Shang Dynasty. He was the ruler of Shang, who launched a revolt against Jie and destroyed his men in the Battle of Mingtiao in approximately 1600 BCE. He took over as ruler of the country, decreased taxes, halted Jie’s ambitious building projects, and managed with such intelligence and efficiency that art and culture flourished. 
  • Writing, as well as bronze metallurgy, architecture, and religion, advanced under the Shang Dynasty.
  • There were advancements in arithmetic, astronomy, art, and military technology during the Shang dynasty. They spoke an early kind of modern Chinese and had a well-developed calendar system.
  • In the Yellow River’s Yilou basin, about 10 kilometers southwest of Yanshi City in China’s Henan Province, lies the enormous Bronze Age site known as Erlitou. Although Erlitou has a lengthy history of being linked to the Xia or early Shang Dynasty, it is more accurately regarded as the birthplace of the Erlitou culture.
  • The earliest bronze containers cast in China were created in the foundries at Erlitou, which is noted for its bronze products. The first bronze pots were explicitly made for the ritual drinking of wine, which was likely prepared from wild grape or rice.
  • There is still academic disagreement about whether Erlitou belongs in the Xia or Shang dynasties. The sophistication of the first known bronzes in China, which were cast in Erlitou, suggests that there was a state-level degree of organization. Zhou dynasty records the name Xia as the first of the bronze age cultures, but researchers disagree on whether this civilization existed apart from the early Shang or was only a political fabrication made up by the leaders of the Zhou dynasty to maintain their power. Erlitou was founded in 1959, and excavations have continued ever since.

Zhou Dynasty  (c. 1046-256 BCE)

  • In China’s ancient past, there were 559 rulers and 83 dynasties. The Zhou dynasty ruled the area for about eight centuries, making it the longest dynasty in Chinese history. Culture developed and civilization spread throughout the Zhou era. Chopsticks were invented, writing was standardized, and currency was created.
  • In 1046 BCE, King Wu rebelled against King Zhou and defeated his forces at the Battle of Muye, establishing the Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046 – 256 BCE).
  • Chinese philosophy developed with the advent of the philosophical systems of Confucianism, Taoism, and Mohism. The dynasty produced some of China’s finest thinkers and poets, including Lao-Tzu, Tao Chien, Confucius, Mencius, Mo Ti, and military strategist Sun-Tzu. 
  • The Zhou’s also created the notion of the Mandate of Heaven, which was used to defend the reign of god-blessing monarchs. 
  • The Warring States period (476-221 BCE) saw many city-states attack one another and establish themselves as autonomous feudal entities. They were eventually cemented by Qin Shi Huangdi, a harsh warlord who became China’s first emperor.

The Imperial Rule of China

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE)

  • The Chinese Empire was founded during the Qin dynasty. China significantly grew to encompass the Ye regions of Hunan and Guangdong during the rule of Qin Shi Huangdi. 
  • Even though it was brief, the era saw large-scale construction initiatives, including the merging of state barriers to form the Great Wall. It witnessed the creation of a standardized form of money, a standardized writing system, and a legal code.
  • In 213 BCE, the Qin emperor ordered the burning of hundreds of thousands of books and the live burial of 460 Confucian professors. He was also in charge of constructing a city-sized tomb for himself, which was guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army of almost 8,000 men, 130 chariots with 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses.
  • Two generals emerged to determine the next emperor: Prince Liu-Bang of Hanzhong and King Xiang-Yu of the state of Chu.
  • In the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BCE, Liu-Bang’s general defeated the forces of Chu under Xiang-Yu, and Liu-Bang was proclaimed emperor.

Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE)

  • Chinese history’s greatest era, the Han dynasty, was noted for its protracted period of peace and prosperity. A central imperial civil service was formed to build a powerful and well-organized administration. 
  • The majority of mainland China was added to China’s territory. In order to connect with the west, the Silk Road was created, bringing with it trade, other civilizations, and the spread of Buddhism.
  • The Han is regarded as the first dynasty to record its history. China’s first book on medicine, The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Medicine, was codified during the Han Dynasty. Around this period, paper was created, and writing developed. Gaozu adopted Confucianism and made it the only governing ideology, creating a precedent that has persisted.
  • The acting regent of Han, Wang Mang, usurped the government and declared Han Dynasty’s end. He founded the Xin Dynasty (9 – 23 CE) on a platform of land reform and redistribution of wealth.
  • His failure to realize his promises led to his assassination and the quick rise and fall of Wei and Jin, the Wu Hu, and the Sui Empires.

Sui Dynasty (581-618 CE)

  • Although short-lived, the Sui Dynasty (589 – 618 CE) finally reunited China in 589 CE, implementing bureaucracy to maintain the empire.
  • Taoism and Buddhism replaced Confucianism as the major religion once they fell into disarray. The legend of Hua Mulan is said to have been written during this period when literature was in its heyday.
  • The army was expanded to become the biggest in the world at the time under Emperor Wen and his son Yang. The Great Wall was extended, the Grand Canal was finished, and coinage was standardized throughout the realm.
  • Sui collapsed after Sui’s emperor was assassinated by Li-Yuan, who later called himself Emperor Gao-Tzu of Tang.
  • Despite his efficient rule, Gao-Tzu was deposed by his son, Li-Shimin, and then killed his brothers and others from the noble house and assumed the title of Emperor Taizong.

Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE)

  • The Tang dynasty was regarded as the pinnacle of Chinese culture and is frequently referred to as the Golden Age of Ancient China. One of the most notable Chinese rulers was Taizong, the country’s second emperor.
  • One of the most tranquil and affluent eras in Chinese history occurred at this time. China had overtaken the rest of the globe as the biggest and most populous nation by the time Emperor Xuanzong (712–756) came into power.
  • The dynasty also produced China’s sole female monarch, Empress Wu Zetian (624-705). Wu organized a secret police force and spied around the kingdom, making her one of China’s most effective and beloved rulers.

Five Dynasties Period, Ten Kingdoms (907-960 CE)

  • The country broke apart into the period known as The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms until the rise of the Song Dynasty.
  • Internal conflict and disorder characterized the fifty years between the end of the Tang dynasty and the beginning of the Song dynasty.
  • Five prospective dynasties succeeded one another in sequence in northern China. Ten different regimes ruled various southern Chinese areas at the same time.
  • Despite the political unrest, significant developments happened during this period. Book printing, which started in the Tang period, gained popularity.

Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE)

  • China was reunited under the rule of Emperor Taizu during the Song dynasty. Gunpowder, printing, paper money, and the compass.
  • Politically divided, the Song court ultimately crumbled under the pressure of the Mongol invasion and was succeeded by the Yuan dynasty.
  • The Song dynasty may have had the most sophisticated weapons and the largest population at the time. So much so that it dwarfed the Mongol armies, they had deployed to conquer all the other nations and empires swiftly. However, it took 44 years and a 450,000-strong Mongol army to overthrow the Song Empire finally.

Mongolian Rule (1279-1368)

  • The Mongols founded the Yuan dynasty, headed by Genghis Khan‘s grandson Kublai Khan (1260–1279), the first non-Chinese leader to control the entire nation. The massive Mongol Empire, which spanned from the Caspian Sea to the Korean peninsula, was the most significant in Yuan China.
  • Khan built Xanadu’s new capital there (or Shangdu in Inner Mongolia). Later, the Mongol Empire’s administrative center was relocated to Daidu, which is now Beijing.
  • A rich cultural diversity developed during the Yuan dynasty. The major cultural achievements were the development of drama, novels, and the increased use of the written vernacular.
  • After a string of famines, plagues, floods, and peasant uprisings, the Mongols’ rule in China ended.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)

  • The Ming dynasty ruled for 276 years (1368–1644) following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.
  • China’s population soared under the Ming dynasty and enjoyed overall economic success. However, the Ming monarchs suffered from the same issues as other dynasties and fell to the Manchu invasion.
  • The Great Wall of China was finished under the dynasty. The Forbidden City, Beijing’s royal home, was built during this period. Ming porcelains in blue and white are another characteristic of the time.
  • Described as “one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history,” the Ming emperors took over the local administration system of the Yuan dynasty.
  • Literature, painting, poetry, music, and Chinese opera of various types flourished during the Ming dynasty.

Pre-Modern Dynasty

Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)

  • The Qing Dynasty led China through a period of prosperity and the Cultural Revolution in a time of peace.
  •  Inventions such as the machine gun, the printing production industry, the development of battle gears, and legalism happened in China.
  • The ethnic Manchu people that made up the Qing came from the Manchuria area of northern China. In terms of total area, the Qing dynasty was the fifth-largest empire ever. But by the early 20th century, rural discontent, hostile foreign powers, and military weakness had undermined its authorities.
  • In the 1800s, Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and Japan launched offensives against Qing China. With the cession of Hong Kong to Britain and the humiliating loss of the Chinese army, the Opium Wars (1839–42 and 1856–60) came to an end.
  • The last Chinese emperor, Puyi, who was just six years old, abdicated on February 12th, 1912. It signaled the commencement of republican and communist governance and ended China’s millennia-long imperial dominance.

Ancient Chinese Empires Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Ancient Chinese Empires across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Ancient Chinese Empires worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Ancient Chinese Empires, which generated the world’s oldest existing civilization.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

  • Dynasties Across Time
  • Ancient Chinese Warfare
  • The Great Generals
  • Chinese Firsts
  • Great Rulers
  • Chinese Fashion
  • The Empress
  • The Forbidden City
  • The Silk Road
  • Archeological Finds
  • Developing Scripts

Frequently Asked Questions

How many empires did ancient China have?

In China’s ancient past, there were 559 rulers and 83 dynasties. The Zhou dynasty ruled the area for about eight centuries, making it the longest dynasty in Chinese history.

What were the four empires in ancient China?

The four empires in ancient China were the Xian Dynasty (c. 2070-1600 BCE), the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1050 BCE), the Erlitou Dynasty (1900-1500 BCE), which was still being debated whether it belonged to the Xian or Shang Dynasty, and lastly, the Zhou Dynasty.

What were the three main dynasties of  China?

The three main dynasties of  China were the Xian Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty, and the Zhou Dynasty, which marked the beginning of Chinese civilization.

What was the most powerful Chinese dynasty?

The Tang dynasty was regarded as the pinnacle of Chinese culture and is frequently referred to as the Golden Age of Ancient China. One of the most notable Chinese rulers was Taizong, the country’s second emperor. One of the best tranquil and affluent eras in Chinese history occurred at this time. China had overtaken the rest of the globe as the biggest and most populous nation by the time Emperor Xuanzong (712–756) came into power.

Why is China called China?

The term “China” is derived from the Sanskrit Cina (derived from the name of the Chinese Qin Dynasty, pronounced “Chin”), which was rendered as “Cin” by the Persians and appeared to have gained popularity through commerce along the Silk Road.

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