Table of Contents

Pre-imperial China up to 221 BC: the Shang dynasty and before - until c.1045 BC; the Western Zhou (Chou) c.1054-771 BC; the Eastern Zhou - the spring and autumn period and the warring states 771-221 BC. The early empire 221 BC-220 AD: the Qin and former (Western) Han dynasties 221 BC-9 AD; Wang Mant (9-23 AD) and the later Han dynasty (25-220 AD). The disunity 220-589. Imperial restoration - the Sui and Tang dynasties and the second disunity 589-960; the Sui dynasty (589-618); the early Tang dynasty (618-763); the later Tang dynasty (763-907) and second disunity (907-960). The Song dynasty 960-1279. The Yuan (Mongol) dynasty 1279-1368. The Ming dynasty 1368-1644. The Qing (Manchu) dynasty 1644-1912: the Shunzhi, Kangxi, Yongzhen and Qianlong emperors 1644-1796; the Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xiangeng and Tongzhi emperors 1796-1875; the Guangxu and Puyi emperors 1875-1912. The Republic of China (ROC) 1912-1949. The rule of Mao Zedong 1949-1976. China since 1976.

About the Author

Justin Wintle is series editor of the Rough Guide Chronicles. He has many publications to his credit, including several reference books, two novels and Romancing Vietnam (Penguin) and Furious Interiors: Wales, R.S.Thomas and God (HarperCollins).