Shang (1751-1112) oracle bones, bronzes, shangdi

Zhou (1111-222) tianming, Confucius, Daoism, Legalism

   Qin (221-206) imperial institutions, Great Wall, monumental burial

Han (206-220) imperial borders, Confucian eclecticism, historical literature

Disunity (220-581) Buddhism, demographic shift south

Sui (581-618) reunification, Grand Canal

Tang (618-906) Rise and fall of Buddhism, cosmopolitanism

Disunity (907-959) Rise of Khitan-Liao (Mongols)

Song (960-1279) Neo-Confucianism, Jurchen Jin (Manchus)

Yuan (1280-1368) Mongol conquest, Marco Polo

Ming (1368-1644) maritime expeditions, last "Chinese" dynasty